BY-LAWS OF THE OVERSEAS CHINESE SOCIETY for INDUSTRIAL and APPLIED MATHEMATICS (draft for discussions) Some references www pages: http://www.siam.org/about/about98.htm http://www.ocpaweb.org/ This SOCIETY is a non-profit, professional organization. This SOCIETY is open for all professionals in industry, science, academia and business. The objectives of the SOCIETY are: to promote application, development and promotion of mathematical modeling and simulation in industry, science and business; to serve the members for their professional careers; and to promote greater awareness of the achievements by ethnic Chinese scientists, engineers, professionals and mathematicians in this country and abroad; The SOCIETY is inspired by the vision that applied and computational mathematics should play an important role in advancing science and technology in industry and business. Applied mathematics, in partnership with computing, has become essential in solving many real-world problems. MEMBERS Active members are all members who pay the annual membership fees. Regular Member: Any due pay professional who works in industry, science, academia and business, and who is interested in application, development and promotion of mathematical modeling and simulation. Life Member: Any Regular Member who pays life member fee. Student Member: Any student enrolled at an institution of higher learning . Institution Member: Any corporate representative supportive of the objectives of the Society. Membership lists shall be kept up to date by the Secretary General of the Society. Privileges Regular Members are VOTING MEMBERS who shall receive electronic NewsLetters, participate in discussions of Association related issues, be eligible to vote in the election of Officers and other matters, and be eligible to serve as officers. Student Members, Institution Members shall enjoy the same privileges of the Regular Members except in the voting on Officers and matters, and are not eligible to serve as officers. Leadership The elected leadship is with two-year term. The elected leadship consists of five people: one President, two vice Presidents, Secretary General and Treasurer. REGIONAL CHAPTERS As the membership rises in a geographical region of proximity or in a subfield of common interest, members from that region or subfield may, upon consultation with and authorization by the Society's five-people leadership, form a regional or divisional chapter. Each regional chapter shall be led by a Regional Coordinator. Activities of all chapters are subject to supervision by the Society's five-people leadership. OFFICERS & COMMITTEES The affairs of the Society shall be charged to five-people leadership as the Governing Body. These officers shall be themselves regular members in good standing, and are to be elected by a majority vote of the regular membership to serve a two-year term, except for the Regional and Divisional Coordinators who shall be elected to a two-year term by a majority vote of the individual regions or divisions. The Regional Coordinators shall represent the regions and coordinate regional activities. The five-people leadership shall be entrusted with the power to appoint special committees and study groups to deal with urgent needs and special problems that may arise. The Treasurer shall submit an annual financial report to all members at the conclusion of a calendar year (December). NOMINATION & ELECTION OF OFFICERS Election of new officers shall be entrusted to a Nominations and Balloting Committee appointed by the five-people leadership and the election shall take place every two years. The terms of the officers shall expire in the September of the election year. At each election, the new five-people leadership, as well as Regional Coordinators shall be elected. Nominations of candidates for officers may be made to the Nominations and Balloting Committee by 10 or more regular members. The Nominations and Balloting Committee may in addition place qualified members as candidates for new officers. Names of candidates of officers as well as their background shall be announced in the Society Newsletter prior to the election. The five-people leadership is empowered to make appointment to fill vacancies of officers due to resignation, death, or other causes. NEWSLETTERS AND ACTIVITIES The Society shall regularly publish a Newsletter distributed via email to members. The Society shall organize Spring and Fall meetings each year. ANNUAL DUES The annual membership fee schedules of the Regular, Student, and Institution members and the one time due of Life members shall be determined at the time of each election. IMPEACHMENT Officers may be impeached and removed before their terms by a 2/3 majority vote of the VOTING MEMBERS conducted by a mail ballot. The impeachment shall be based on misconduct, the existence of which would seriously interfere with the normal function of the Association: (a) inattention to the required duties of the office; (b) abusing the power entrusted in the position of the officer; and/or (c) conflict of interest. AMENDMENTS OF BY-LAWS The By-laws may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the VOTING MEMBERS by mail ballot. There shall normally be no more than one mail ballot each year on charter and by-law amendments. Proposed amendments shall be announced in the Electronic Newsletter at least 60 days prior to the vote. Amendments may be proposed, by at least 10% of the voting members but not less than 20 (twenty) in number, to the Chairperson who shall refer the proposed amendment to the Executive Council for evaluation. The Council shall present the supporting statement for the amendment provided by the petitioners in the Association News Bulletin prior to the vote. At the same time, the Executive Council shall present the result of its evaluation and its reasons for or against the proposed amendment.