Service Crystallography
Special Interest Group
I. Name: The name of this group is THE SERVICE CRYSTALLOGRAPHY GROUP.
II. Purpose: The purpose of this subgroup of the AMERICAN CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION (herein "the ASSOCIATION") is to provide a forum for professional service crystallographers.
III.Relationship to the Association: The Constitution of this Group shall be consistent with the Constitution, By-laws, and Operating Rules of the Association. In the event of any conflict the Constitution, By-laws and Rules of the Association shall prevail.
IV. Membership: Membership in the Group is open to all members of the Association. Persons desiring membership should apply to the Secretary of the Executive Committee of this Group and pay the prescribed dues, if any.
V. Organization: The activities of this Group shall be directed by an Executive Committee of three members. The officers of the Executive shall be a Chairperson, a Chairperson-elect and a Secretary-Treasurer.
The Chairperson and Chairperson-elect shall each serve as such for a term beginning on 1 January of the year next after election and serve as such for one calendar year. The Chairperson-elect shall succeed to the chair at the end of his/her term as Chairperson-elect.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a two year term beginning on 1 January of the year next after election.
At the expiry of their terms the Chairperson and Secretary-Treasurer shall not be eligible for re-election for the next succeeding term as the Chairperson-elect or Secretary-Treasurer, respectively.
No person may serve more than two consecutive terms on the Executive Committee.
VI.Duties of the Officers and Executive. These are as follows:
(1)The Chairperson
(a)To administer the affairs of the Group.
(b)To preside at meetings of the Group and of the Executive.
(c) To represent the Group to the Council of the Association and to be the Group's representative on the program committee of the ACA meetings.
(d)To serve as a consultant to the Executive during the ACA meeting during his/her term in office.
(2)The Chairperson-elect
(a) To act in place of the Chairperson when the Chairperson is not present or is unable to discharge his/her duties.
(b) To perform such duties and functions on behalf of the Group as the Chairperson may, from time to time, direct.
(3)The Secretary-Treasurer
(a)To keep minutes of all meetings.
(b)To keep membership files.
(c)To attend to correspondence and notices of the Group. Whenever possible all notices to the Group shall be circulated along with the Newsletter of the Association.
(d) To keep exact records of the finances of the Group in collaboration with the Treasurer of the Association.
(e)To conduct the elections of the Group.
(f)To prepare an annual report of Group activities.
(g)To preserve and augment historical archival material pertaining to the Group.
(h) To perform such other duties and functions on behalf of the Group as the Chairperson may, from time to time, direct.
(4)The Executive
(a) To deliberate the affairs of the Group and to cause appropriate action to be taken based upon these deliberations or as the result of a decision being taken at a Group meeting or based upon the report of an appointed committee.
(b) To organize a session relating to some specific aspect of the Group's interests at least once every two years. This session will be held at a regular meeting of the Association and be organized in cooperation with the Program Chairman of the meeting.
(c)To promote any activity which, in the opinion of the Executive, furthers the purpose of the Group.
(d)To appoint a Nominating Committee and such other committees as, from time to time, are deemed necessary. Noappointee to such a committee shall have a term of more than two years.
VII.The Nominating Committee and Nominations for Executive Office: The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members. The immediate past Chairperson shall be invited to be a member of the Nominating Committeee. The Nominating Committee shall propose at least two persons for election to each Executive office that will fall vacant in the succeeding year. Additional nominations may be submitted from the membership by petition signed by five or more members of the Group. Nominations from the Nominating Committee shall be related in writing to the Executive before April lst of each year.
VIII.Elections: All elections shall be by mail ballot and shall be conducted at the same time as elections for officers of the Association so far as is possible. In any election the candidate receiving the largest number of votes shall be deemed elected.
IX. Dues: The Executive Committee may set dues to be charged to the members of the Group subject to the approval of the Council of the Association and of the Group itself. Such dues shall be collected and disbursed by the Treasurer of the Association.
X. Business: A business meeting of the Group shall be held annually to coincide with one of the regular meetings of the Association. A quorum at a business meeting shall be one third of the membership of the Group or twenty-five members, whichever is the smaller number. A simple majority of those votes shall be sufficient to pass a motion at a business meeting.
XI. Amendments: Amendments to this Constitution shall be by mail ballot. Such a mail ballot shall be conducted at the same time as the election of Executive officers. A simple majority of those valid ballots cast shall be binding on any proposed amendment.
XII. Vacancies on the Executive: If the office of Chairperson becomes vacant the Chairperson-elect shall succeed to the Chair for the remainder of the unexpired year and will succeed in the following year according to the provisions of Article V. If any other office becomes vacant, the remaining officers shall appoint a member of the Group to fill the vacancy until the next election can be held. An appointed member of the Executive shall be eligible for regular election to the Executive and the term of such appointed service shall not be counted under the provisions of Article V.