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Bylaws of the
Association for Women in Mathematics
(As Amended in January 2005)
Section 1. Name, Purposes, Location, Corporate
Seal and Fiscal Year
1.1 Name and Purposes
The name and purposes of the Corporation shall be as set forth
in the Articles of Organization.
1.2 Location
The principal office of the Corporation in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts shall initially be located at the place set forth in Articles of
Organization of the Corporation. The Directors may change the location of the
principal office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts effective upon filing a
Certificate with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
1.3 Corporate Seal
The Directors may adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation.
1.4 Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall, unless otherwise
decided by the Directors, end June 30 in each year.
Section 2. Members
2.1 Qualification
Subject to approval of an officer of the Association, any
person with a bona fide relationship to the teaching, learning,
and pursuit of mathematics or the legal rights of women may
become a member on the payment of dues as determined by the
Executive Committee.
2.2 Powers and Rights
In addition to the right to elect Directors as provided in
Section 4.1 and such other powers and rights as are
vested in them by law, the Articles of Organization or by these Bylaws, the
members shall have such other powers and rights as the Directors may designate.
2.3 Removal
A member may be removed only for cause by vote of a majority of
members then in office, and (except in the event of non-payment of dues) only
after reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard.
2.4 Resignation
A member may resign by delivering her written resignation to the
president Treasurer or Clerk of the Corporation, to a meeting of the members or
Directors or to the Corporation at its principal office. Such resignation shall
be effective upon receipt (unless specified to be effective at some other
time), and acceptance thereof shall not be necessary to make it effective
unless it so states.
2.5 Annual Meetings
The Annual Meeting of the members shall be held at the Joint
Mathematics Meeting in January of each year at a time and place to be announced
in the Newsletter of the Association and in the Notice of the American
Mathematical Society, the announcement to be made at least thirty days in
advance of the meeting. Notice of any change of the procedure fixed in these
Bylaws for the Annual Meeting shall be given to all members at least twenty
days before the new date fixed for such meeting.
If an annual meeting is not held as herein provided a special
meeting of the members may be held in place thereof with the same force and
effect as the annual meeting, and in such case all references in these bylaws
to the Annual Meeting of the members shall be deemed to refer to such Special
Meeting. Any such Special Meeting shall be called and notice shall be given as
provided in Section 2.7 and 2.8.
2.6 Regular Meetings
> Regular meetings of the members may be held at such places within the United States and at such times as
the members may determine. One regular meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Joint Mathematics Meetings in January. The presence of twenty members in good standing shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.
Special Meetings of the members may be held at any time and any
place within the United States. Special Meetings of the members may be called
by the President or by the Directors, and shall be called by the Clerk, or in
the case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of the Clerk, by any
other officer, upon written application of ten or more members.
- Annual and Regular Meetings. No call or notice shall
be required for annual or regular meetings of members, provided that reasonable
notice (i) of the first regular meeting following the determination by the
members of the times and places for regular meetings shall be given to absent
members, (ii) of an annual meeting not held at the principal office of the
Corporation shall be given to each member, (iii) specifying the purpose of an
annual or regular meeting shall be given to each member if either contracts or
transactions of the Corporation with interested persons or amendments to these
Bylaws (as adopted by the Directors or otherwise) are to be considered at the
meeting and (iv) shall be given as otherwise required by law, the Articles of
Organization or these Bylaws.
- Special Meetings. Reasonable notice of the place and
time of special meetings of the members shall be given to each member. Such
notice need not specify the purposes of a meeting, unless otherwise required by
law, the Articles of Organization or these Bylaws or unless there is to be
considered at the meeting (i) contracts or transactions of the Corporation with
interested persons, (ii) amendments to these Bylaws (as adopted by the
Directors or otherwise), (iii) an increase or decrease in the number of
Directors, or (iv) removal or suspension of a member or Director.
- Reasonable and Sufficient Notice. Reasonable and
Sufficient Notice. Except as otherwise expressly provided,
it shall be reasonable and sufficient notice to a member to
send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours or by email
at least twenty-four hours before the meeting addressed to
her at her usual or last known business or residence address
or to give notice to her in person by telephone at least
twenty-four hours before the Meeting.
- Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice of a meeting is
required, such notice need not be given to any member if a written Waiver of
Notice, executed by her (or her attorney thereunto authorized) before or after
the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting. A Waiver of Notice need
not specify the purposes of the meeting unless such purposes were required to
be specified in the notice of such Meeting.
2.9 Quorum
At any Meeting of the members, a majority of the members then in
office (whether present in person or duly represented) shall constitute a
quorum, except that twenty (20) persons must be present in person at a regular
meeting and will, in that event, constitute a quorum. Any Meeting may be
adjourned to such date or dates not more than ninety (90) days after the first
session of the Meeting by a majority of the votes cast upon the questions,
whether or not a quorum is present, and the Meeting may be held as adjourned
without further notice.
2.10 Action by Vote
Each member shall have one vote. When a quorum is present at any
meeting, a majority of the votes properly cast by members present in person or
duly represented shall decide any question, including election to any office,
unless otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Organization, or these
Bylaws.
2.11 Action by Writing
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of
the members may be taken without a meeting if all members entitled to vote on
the matter consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed
with the reports of the meetings of the members. Such consents shall be treated
for all purposes as a vote at a meeting.
2.12 Proxies
Members may vote either in person or by written proxy dated not
more than four (4) months before the meeting named therein, which proxies shall
be filed before being voted with the Clerk or other person responsible for
recording the proceedings of the meeting. Unless otherwise specifically limited
by their terms, such proxies shall entitle the holders thereof to vote at any
adjournment of the meeting but the proxy shall terminate after the final
adjournment of such meeting.
2.13 Minutes
At each executive committee meeting or business meeting the
presiding officer shall designate a member to take minutes. All minutes will be
kept on file and will be available to members upon request, as will records of
action by writing.
Section 3. Sponsors, Benefactors, Contributors,
Advisers, Friends of the Corporations
The Directors may designate certain persons or groups of persons
as sponsors, benefactors, contributors, advisers, and friends of the
Corporation or such other titles as they deem appropriate. Such persons shall
serve in an honorary capacity and, except as the Directors shall otherwise
designate, shall in such capacity have no right to notice of or to vote at any
meeting, shall not be considered for purposes of establishing a quorum, and
shall have no other rights or responsibilities.
Section 4. Board of Directors and Officers
The Directors shall consist of all members of the
Executive Committee except for the Newsletter
Editor, the Web Editor, and the Meetings
Coordinator. The affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed by the Directors who shall have and may
exercise all the powers of the Corporation, except
those powers reserved to the members by law, the
Articles of Organization or by these Bylaws.
4.2 Number and Election or Appointment of
Officers
The Officers shall consist of the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of
the President, President-Elect (in even years) or
Past President (in odd years), Treasurer, Newsletter
Editor, Clerk, Meetings Coordinator, Web Editor,
and eight to ten At-Large Members. The Officers shall be
elected or appointed as follows:
In the fall of even-numbered years, the Officers
shall determine whether four or five At-Large
Members are to be elected in the fall of the next
odd-numbered year.
In the fall of years 2005+4n, elections will be
held by mail ballot of the general membership for
the President-Elect, Clerk, and four or five (as determined
above) At-Large
Members; and the Executive Committee shall appoint a
Newsletter Editor, a Web Editor, and a Meetings
Coordinator. In the fall of years 2007+4n, elections
will be held by mail ballot of the general
membership for the President-Elect, Treasurer, and
four or five (as determined above) At-Large Members; and the Executive Committee
shall appoint a Newsletter Editor, a Web Editor, and
a Meetings Coordinator. The Directors shall
automatically appoint the President-Elect to be
President immediately following her term of office,
and the President to be Past President for the year
immediately following her term of office.
4.3 Tenure
The President shall hold office for two years
commencing with the odd year February 1 immediately
following her election as President-Elect. The
Meetings Coordinator, the Web Editor, and the
Newsletter Editor shall hold office for two years
commencing with the even year February 1 immediately
following their appointments. The President-Elect
shall hold office for one year commencing with
the even year February 1 immediately following her
election, and the Past President shall hold office
for one year commencing with the odd year February 1
immediately following her term as President.
At-Large Members, the Clerk, and the Treasurer
shall hold office for four years commencing with the
even year February 1 immediately following their
election. Each officer shall hold office for the
above terms and until her successor is elected and
qualified, or until she sooner dies, resigns, is
removed, or becomes disqualified. The President,
Clerk, Treasurer, and At-Large Members are not to
hold the same office for more than two consecutive
terms.
4.4 Nominations
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The Clerk shall conduct elections in the fall of
odd-numbered years, except, if her name appears on
the ballot, the Past President shall count the
ballots.
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Nominations shall be made for each elected position by a
nominating committee appointed by the Executive Committee, or by petition. Any
member of the Corporation may suggest a name for consideration by the
nominating committee by submitting the name of the proposed candidate and
office to the President before February 15 of the appropriate odd-numbered
year. Nominations by petition may be made by submitting a petition bearing 20
signatures in support of the nomination to the President before September 1 of
the appropriate odd year.
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The Newsletter Editor shall notify the membership of the
officers to be elected that year in the January/February issue of the
Newsletter in odd years. The Newsletter Editor shall include the official
ballot with the names of the candidates proposed by the Executive Committee
(through their nominating committee), together with the names proposed by
petition, in the November/December issue of the Newsletter in odd-numbered
years. Each name entered on the ballot may be accompanied by a brief vita
supplied by the candidate.
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In order to be counted, ballots must reach the Corporation main business
office by December 15. The nominee receiving a plurality of votes cast
shall be declared elected in the case of the positions of President-Elect,
Clerk, and Treasurer; in the case of Members-At-Large, the three candidates
with the largest number of votes in years 1993+4n and the two candidates
with the largest number of votes in years 1991+4n shall be declared
elected by the Directors.
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In the event that an elected officer should for any reason
be unwilling or unable to carry out the responsibilities of the office, the
Executive Committee shall determine the time and manner of replacement
4.5 Chairman of the Board of Directors
If a Chairman of the Board of Directors is elected, she shall
preside at all meetings of the Directors, except as the Directors shall
otherwise determine, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be
determined by the Directors.
4.6 President, President-Elect, and Past
President
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation and, subject to the control of the Directors, shall have general
charge and supervision of the affairs of the Corporation. The President shall
preside at all meetings of the members, and if no Chairman of the Board of
Directors is elected, at all meetings of the Directors, except as the members
or Directors otherwise determine.
The President-Elect or Past President shall have such duties and
powers as the Directors shall determine. The President-Elect or Past President
shall have and may exercise all the powers and duties of the President during
the absence of the President or in the event of her inability to act.
4.7 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer and the chief
accounting officer of the Corporation. She shall be in charge of its financial
affairs, funds, securities, and valuable papers and shall keep full and
accurate records thereof. She shall also be in charge of its books of account
and accounting records, and of its accounting procedures.
4.8 Clerk
The Clerk shall maintain records of all proceedings of the
members and Directors in a book or series of books kept for that purpose, which
book or books shall be kept within the Commonwealth at the principal office of
the Corporation or at the office of its Clerk or of its resident agent and
shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of any member. Such
book or books shall also contain records of all meetings of Incorporators and
the original, or attested copies, of the Articles of Organization and Bylaws
and names of all members and Directors and the addresses of each.
4.9 Newsletter Editor
The Newsletter Editor shall edit and be responsible for the
publication of the Newsletter of the Corporation. Frequency of publication
shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
4.10 Executive Committee
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The administration of the Corporation shall normally be in
the hands of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall act either
upon its own initiative or upon the approval of recommendations of the
membership of the Corporation.
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Upon petition of 5% of the membership of the Corporation,
any action of the Executive Committee shall be subjected to a mail ballot of
the entire membership of the Corporation. Such action shall be ratified by a
majority of those voting in the mail ballots.
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The Executive Committee may adopt further Bylaws and/or
Regulations which are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
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Responsibilities.
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The Executive Committee shall meet at least once annually in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of members at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in January or otherwise as called by the President. It is a responsibility of Officers to try to attend meetings during their tenure; those who will not be present should notify the President in advance of the meeting. If a majority of the Executive Committee is not present, members having notified the President that they would be absent will be polled concerning actions. The Executive Committee may go into closed executive session upon majority vote. Any members of the Corporation may attend and participate, without vote, in all meetings of the Executive Committee which are not in closed executive session. Interim matters requiring Executive Committee action and approval may be handled by mail or email ballot of the Executive Committee.
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The responsibilities of the Executive Committee shall
be:
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To provide for its own organization and operation
and to manage the business and affairs of the Corporation;
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To create Task Forces and other units of
organization of the Association as it may deem advisable to carry out the
objectives for which the Corporation was created;
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To initiate and supervise the services of the
Corporation;
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To act upon proposals affecting the dues structure
of the Corporation;
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To plan, with the Program Committee, the time,
place, character, and scope of general meetings of the Corporation.
- Committees.
Either the President or the Executive Committee shall appoint such committees as may be needed to carry out the objectives of the Corporation. Each committee may choose its own internal structure. Upon request of the Executive Committee, committee chairpersons shall report on the work of their committees.
4.11 Suspension or Removal
An Officer may be suspended or removed (a) with or without cause
by vote of a majority of the members then in office or (b) with cause by vote
of a majority of the Executive Committee members then in office. Recall of an
Officer may be initiated by petition of either 2/3 of the Executive Committee
or 25% of the general membership. Upon receipt of the petition,
verification of signatures and vote by mail ballot will occur as soon as
possible within six months.
4.12 Resignation
An officer may resign by delivering her written resignation to
the President, Treasurer or Clerk of the Corporation, to a meeting of the
members or Executive Committee, or to the Corporation at its principal office.
Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt (unless specified to be
effective at some other time), and acceptance thereof shall not be necessary to
make it effective unless it so states.
4.13 Vacancies
If the office of any officer becomes vacant, the Executive
Committee may elect or appoint a successor. Each such successor shall hold office for the
unexpired term, and in the case of the President, Treasurer and Clerk until her
successor is elected and qualified, or in each case until she sooner dies,
resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified.
If changes in these Bylaws create a position or positions that cannot be
filled immediately under the rules for election and appointment herein, the
Executive Committee may elect or appoint an officer to fill each such position.
Each such officer shall hold office until the next regularly scheduled election
or appointment for her office, or until she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or
becomes disqualified.
4.14 Regular Meetings of Directors
Regular meetings of the Directors may be held at such places and
at such times as the Directors may determine.
4.15 Special Meetings of Directors
Special Meetings of the Directors may be held at any time and at
any place when called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors (or if there be
no such Chairman, the President) or by two or more Directors.
4.16 Call and Notice
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Regular Meetings of Directors. No call or notice
shall be required for regular meetings of Directors, provided that reasonable
notice (i) of the first regular meeting following the determination by the
Directors of the times and place for regular meetings shall be given to absent
members, (ii) specifying the purpose of a regular meeting shall be given to
each Director if either contracts or transactions of the Corporation with
interested persons or amendments to these Bylaws are to be considered at the
meeting and (iii) shall be given as otherwise required by law, the Articles of
Organization or these Bylaws.
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Special Meetings of Directors. Reasonable notice of
the time and place of special meetings of the Directors shall be given to each
Director. Such notice need not specify the purposes of a meeting, unless
otherwise required by law, the Articles of Organization or these Bylaws or
unless there is to be considered at the meeting (i) contracts or transactions
of the Corporation with interested persons, (ii) amendments to these Bylaws,
(ill) an increase or decrease in the number of Directors, or (iv) removal or
suspension of a Director.
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Reasonable and Sufficient Notice. Except as otherwise expressly provided, it shall be reasonable and sufficient notice to a Director to send notice by mail at least five days or by email at least two days before the meeting addressed to her at her usual or last known business or residence address or to give notice to her in person or by telephone at least two days before the meetings.
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Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice of a meeting is
required, such notice need not to be given to any Director if a written waiver
of notice, executed by her (or her attorney thereunto authorized) before or
after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Director
who attends without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of
notice to her. A Waiver of Notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting
unless such purposes were required to be specified in the notice of such
meeting.
4.17 Quorum
At any meeting of the Directors a majority of the Directors then
in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned by a majority
of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and
the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
4.18 Action by Vote
When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the
Directors present and voting shall decide any question, including election of
officers, unless otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Organization or
these Bylaws.
4.19 Action by Writing
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Directors may be taken without a meeting if all the Directors
consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the
records of the meetings of the Directors. Such consents shall be treated for
all purposes as a vote at a meeting.
4.20 Compensation
Directors shall be entitled to receive for their services such
amount, if any, as the Directors may from time to time determine, which may
include expenses of attendance at meetings. Directors shall not be precluded
from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation
for any such services.
Section 5. Execution of Papers
Except as the Directors may generally or in particular cases
authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases,
transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts and other obligations made,
accepted or endorsed by the Corporation shall be signed by the President or by
the Treasurer.
Any recordable instrument purporting to affect an interest in
real estate, executed in the name of the Corporation by two of its officers, of
whom one is the President or President-Elect or Past President and the other is
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, shall be binding on the Corporation in
favor of a purchaser or other person relying in good faith on such instrument
notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of the Articles of Organization,
Bylaws, resolutions or votes of the Corporation.
Section 6. Personal Liability
The members, Directors and officers of the Corporation shall not be
personally liable for any debt, liability or obligation of the Corporation. All
persons, corporations or other entities extending credit to, contracting with,
or having any claim against, the Corporation, may look only to the funds and
property of the Corporation for the payment of any such contract or claim, or
for the payment of any debts, damages, judgment or decree, or of any money that
may otherwise become due or payable to them from the Corporation.
Section 7. Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any member in good
standing, or by any Director. Amendments, to be adopted must first be approved
by a majority of the members voting in a Regular Meeting, or in a Special
Meeting with Notice duly given stating the substance of such change, and then
be ratified by majority of the members in a mail ballot of the membership of
the Corporation.
Section 8. Regional Organizations
Regional Organizations may be formed by Corporation members.
Each Regional Organization may choose its own internal structure and enjoy
significant autonomy from the Executive Committee.
Section 9. Affiliations
The Corporation may affiliate with other organizations, subject
to the approval of a majority of those voting. Voting shall be by a mail ballot
sent to all members. The ballot shall be accompanied by statements supporting
affiliation and non-affiliation.
Another organization may affiliate with the Corporation subject
to the procedures of the other organization and upon the approval of the
Executive Committee of the Corporation.
Section 10. Dissolution
The Corporation may be dissolved only at a Special Meeting
called for the purpose. Upon any such dissolution of the Corporation, all its
property remaining after satisfaction of all its obligations shall be
distributed to such one or more learned societies, organized and operated
exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, no
part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private member,
or individual, as provided in Section 4.20 of the
Articles of Organization.
Life Cycle of AWM Elections
| even Nov. 24 |
NLE puts into copy for Jan. NL a request to membership for
suggestions (due by 12/15 to Pres.) for officers to be elected upcoming odd Fall
[4.4(b&c)]. |
| odd Jan. 1 |
NL carries notice described above. |
| odd Jan. E.C. mtg. |
Exec. Comm. appoints and charges a Nom. Com. [President
implements] [4.4(b) part 1] |
| odd Feb. 1 |
There is no change in the individuals making up the
Executive Committee. (The President-Elect becomes President and the President
becomes Past President) |
| odd Feb. 15 |
President and Past President forward suggestions received
from members to Nom. Comm. Chair by 2/15. |
| odd May 1 |
Nom. Comm. reports their slate to President & President
to Executive Committee. |
| odd May 24 |
NLE puts proposed slate into copy for July issue with
petitioning rights and regulations from end of 4.4(b). |
| odd July 1 |
NL appears which has slate and petition notice as
above. |
| odd Sept. 1 |
"Before September 1" a petition (20 members'
signatures) for a name to appear on ballot must reach President [4.4(b)] who
notifies NLE. |
| odd Sept. 24 |
NLE fixes copy for ballot for November issue. |
| odd Nov. 1 |
NL ballot appears in Nov/Dec NL [4.4(c)] and returned
ballots must reach the Clerk by December 1. [4.4(d)] |
| odd Nov. |
President appoints or reappoints a Clerk (for term to begin
upcoming odd February 1). [4.2] |
| odd Nov. |
Executive Committee appoints or reappoints a Newsletter
Editor and a Meetings Coordinator. [4.2] |
| odd Dec. |
If any offices are contested on the ballot, Clerk should
notify all concerned immediately after December 1 so January meeting travel
plans can be modified if desired. |
| even Jan. mtg. |
At the January meetings in even years, the Executive
Committee is composed of the "old" officers because all new officers
take office February 1. |
| even Feb.1 |
New officers assume their offices. |
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