Student Affiliate of the American Chemical Society (SAACS)

By-Laws

I.  Membership and Dues

Chapter eligibility shall be limited to undergraduates at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).  There will be two types of membership: (a) A full member will be a chemistry major or minor registered with the American Chemical Society (ACS); (b) an associate member can be any interested undergraduate, who pays his or her local dues.  Local dues are $5.00 per year and can be changed by amending these bylaws.

A student group cannot discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, national origin, age, religion, or physical disability.

II.  Committees

The following standing committees shall have the duties listed.  The President shall appoint committee chairs where not listed.  Future committees shall be created as necessary by decision of the executive officers.

The Academic and Professional Development Committee

Oversees chapter-sponsored academic and professional services

The Communication Committee

            ·  Chaired by the Secretary

            ·  Facilitates the flow of chapter related information

            ·  Encourages cooperation and participation of chapter members

The Program Committee

            ·  Chaired by the Vice-President

            ·  Coordinates chapter activities

            ·  Presides at all meetings and chapter functions

            ·  Plans and compiles the chapter's calendar for the year

The Student Advisor Committee

            ·  Represents the chapter and acts as a liaison to the faculty

            ·  Coordinates the membership recruitment campaign

 

IV.  Elections

Elections shall be conducted at the first general meeting of each academic year.  Full members shall be eligible to hold executive offices.  The Communication Committee shall accept nominations for one week before elections.

V.  Meetings

General Meetings

General meetings shall be held monthly as decided by the Program Committee.  The agenda should include brief reports from each standing and temporary committee chair, officers, and the faculty advisor, followed by a program or speaker, and ending with a time for committees to plan their respective committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Committee meetings shall be held at least monthly as decided by the respective committee chairs.  The agenda for the meeting should include committee business and preparation of a committee report for the general meetings.

Business Meetings

Business meetings shall be held as deemed necessary by the President.  The meeting shall be open to all active members and mandatory attendance of the executive officers and committee chairs shall be required.

Quorum

Meetings shall be required to meet quorum before deciding club matters requiring a vote.  A meeting satisfies quorum with the attendance of at least two-thirds (2/3) the number of active members that attended the previous meeting, or at least six members including two officers.  Only active members shall hold voting rights.

VI.  Amending Chapter Bylaws

Any voting member may submit amendments to Bylaws to the Communication Committee, who shall distribute the proposal.  The proposal shall be discussed and voted upon at the next meeting that meets quorum.  If majority support is obtained, the amendment shall be recorded in the Bylaws and considered effective immediately.