Research Triangle Park Chapter of Sigma Xi Bylaws

Home

Upcoming Events

Contact Us

Officers

General Info

How To Join Us

National Organziation
Past Activities

RTP Chapter Bylaws

Useful Links

Annual Reports

Ethics DVD

Bylaws for RTP Club of Sigma Xi

ARTICLE I. Name and Object

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the RTP Club of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Hereinafter, the RTP Club shall be referred to as the "Club" and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society as the "Society."

Section 2. The object of the Club shall be identical with that of the Society, namely to encourage original investigation in science, pure and applied. Pursuant to that object it is the purpose of the Club to encourage maintenance of companionship and communication among investigators in the various fields of science and engineering.

ARTICLE II. Affiliation

The Club is chartered as a Club of the Society and as such the Club shall comply with the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, which together with these Bylaws constitute the governing documents of the Club. If a conflict should arise between these bylaws and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, the Society's Constitution and Bylaws shall prevail.

ARTICLE III. Membership

Section 1. The membership of the Club is composed of Members and Associate Members. The term "member", uncapitalized, when used herein, includes both Members and Associate Members. No person, or persons, shall be denied membership in the RIP Club of Sigma Xi for reasons of national origin, race, color, religion, sex, age, or physical handicap.

Section 2. Members and Associate Members of Sigma Xi are eligible to be enrolled as Members or Associate Members, as appropriate, of the Club upon payment or proof of payment of the current dues of the Society.

Section 3. The Club may elect Members and Associate Members and may promote Associate Members to Members in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

Section 4. Consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, Associate Members shall have all the rights and duties of Members except those of representing the Club as a delegate at Sigma Xi's annual meetings, acting as members of the Admissions Committee, or of nominating persons to membership.

Section 5. Newly elected Members and Associate Members shall be initiated at a meeting of the Club in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, and their membership shall become effective upon their initiation.

ARTICLE IV. Officers

Section 1. Officers of the Club shall be a President, President-elect, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2. President

a. The President-elect shall become President on 1 July following the term as President-elect. The President shall serve as such for one year or until a successor qualifies.

b. The President is the chief executive officer of the Club and shall preside at all meetings of the Club and the Executive Committee. Except as otherwise provided herein, the President shall perform the customary duties of president and those assigned to the office by the parliamentary authority.

c. The President shall appoint the members of all special committees except those for which the Club specifically makes other provisions and is a member, ex officio. of all committees except the Nominating Committee and such committees established by the Club as it may specifically exempt.

d. The President is authorized to sign checks in the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer, but all disbursements must be approved by the Executive Committee of the Club.

e. If the office of President becomes vacant, the President-elect shall succeed to that office for the remainder of the term, after which they shall serve the normal term as President. If both the offices of President and President-elect become vacant, a special election shall be held to fill both vacancies, until which time the Secretary shall act as Interim President. If, at the end of the term to which they are thus elected, the President and President-elect will have served less than six months, they shall continue for an additional year in these offices; if six months or more, the President-elect shall succeed to the office of the President and a regular election shall be held for President-elect.

Section 3. President-elect

a. The President-elect shall assume office upon 1 July following election and shall serve as such until the expiration of the term of the President, then they shall become President.

b. The President-elect shall appoint members of the Program Committee and shall serve, ex officio, as Chairman of that Committee. The President-elect shall perform the customary duties of a vice-president and those assigned to that office by the parliamentary authority except as otherwise provided herein. The President-elect shall preside over meetings of the Club and Executive Committee in the absence of the President, serve as deputy for the President, and act for the President in the absence of the President. The President-elect is a member ex officio of the Admissions Committee and shall call the first meeting of the Nominations Committee.

c. If the office of the President-elect becomes vacant, a special election shall be held to fill the vacancy. The person so elected shall succeed to the Presidency upon the expiration of the term of the then president.

Section 4. Secretary

a. The Secretary shall assume office upon 1 July following election and shall serve for two years or until a successor qualifies.

b. The Secretary shall perform the customary duties of the office and those specified by the parliamentary authority except as otherwise provided herein. The Secretary is custodian of the minutes, membership roll, and other records of the Club except for financial records held by the Treasurer. The Secretary shall prepare and transmit to all members notice of the time, place, and program of each regular or special meeting of the Club; shall serve as secretary at all meetings of the Club and Executive Committee; shall maintain all official records other than fiscal, including minutes of meetings; and shall maintain records of nomination and election of officers and committee members, records of nominations, election and promotion of Members and Associate Members.

c. The Secretary shall prepare and transmit to the Society all necessary reports and notices required of the Club by the Manual of Procedure of the Society, and shall transmit to the appropriate officers all messages and information received from the Society.

d. A vacancy in the office of Secretary shall be filled by the Executive Committee until the following 1 July or until a successor qualifies.

Section 5. Treasurer

a. The Treasurer shall assume office on 1 July following election and shall serve for two years or until a successor qualifies. b. The Treasurer shall perform the customary duties of the office and those specified by the parliamentary authority except as otherwise provided herein. The Treasurer shall have custody of and maintain the fiscal records of the Club and maintain the funds of the Club in an appropriate repository approved by the Executive Committee.

c. The Treasurer shall pay all legal obligations of the Club upon authorization of the Executive Committee of the Club.

d. The Treasurer shall transmit moneys to and receive moneys from the Society in accordance with the Society's Manual of Procedure, and shall prepare necessary reports as required by that manual.

e. A vacancy in the office of the Treasurer shall be filled by the Executive Committee until the following 1 July or until a successor qualifies.

ARTICLE V. Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee consists of the officers together with the Immediate Past President of the Club. The President is chairman ex officio and the Secretary is secretary ex officio of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall conduct the general business of the Club subject to such resolutions as the Club may adopt. It may incur financial obligations only to the extent that current unencumbered assets are available to meet such obligations.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall appoint delegates to represent the Club at the Assembly of Delegates at the Annual Meeting of the Society.

Section 4. The Executive Committee may establish special committees, whose members shall be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE VI. Standing Committees

Section 1. In addition to the Executive Committee, the standing committees of the Chapter include the Admissions Committee, the Nominations Committee, and the Program Committee.

Section 2. Admissions Committee

a. The Admissions Committee consists of six Members of whom two shall be elected each year by the membership at the annual meeting. They shall take office on 1 July of the year elected and shall serve for three years or until their successors qualify. Vacancies shall be filled by the Executive Committee until the next 1 July when successors elected at the general election shall take office for the unexpired portion of the term.

b. The Admissions Committee shall act upon all nominations for election to Member or Associate Member submitted by two Members of the Club. It is responsible for reviewing the status of all Associate Members annually, and of acting upon their promotion to Member where it finds this action appropriate. Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, it may elect to membership, or promote, by unanimous vote or recommend election or promotion to the Club. A recommendation to the Club shall be acted upon by secret ballot in an executive session of Members only, and a vote of three fourths of the Members present shall be necessary for election. No election or promotion to membership Is allowed except on recommendation of the Admissions Committee.

Section 3. Nominations Committee

a. The Nominations Committee shall consist of three members elected by the Club. They shall take office on 1 July following their election and shall hold office for one year or until their successors qualify. No member of the Executive Committee may be a member of the Nominations Committee.

b. The Nominations Committee shall meet initially upon the call of the President-elect or of any two members. At its first meeting, it shall elect its chairman and thereafter shall meet at the call of its chairman or of any two members.

c The Nominations Committee shall nominate at least one eligible candidate for each office or committee membership to be filled by election of the Club under the bylaws, and shall secure the consent of the candidate to their nomination.

d. Vacancies in the Nominations Committee shall be filled by appointment by the Committee.

Section 4. Program Committee

a The Program Committee consists of the President-elect as chairman, ex officio, the Secretary, ex officio, and not more than three additional members appointed by the President-elect.

b. The Program Committee is responsible for planning, arranging, conducting and publicizing all meetings and other events, activities, and functions of the Club.

Section 5. Additional standing committees may be established by the Club. Their members shall be appointed by the President unless the Club specifies another method.

ARTICLE VII. Special Committees

Special committees may be authorized by the Club or by the Executive Committee. Their members shall be appointed by the President unless the Club in authorizing a special committee specifies another method.

ARTICLE VIII. Elections

Section 1. The annual regular election of officers and committee members shall take place at a meeting held in the spring/summer of the year in which they are to take office. Special meetings for the filling of vacancies in the office of President or President-elect in accordance with these Bylaws shall be called by the Executive Committee. Notice of an election including the names of candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members not less than one week before the meeting.

Section 2. Nominations from the floor are in order at any election.

Section 3. Method of Election

a. If there are no more nominees for a position than vacancies, and no member objects, the nominees may be declared elected by unanimous consent. In all other cases, election shall be by secret ballot. If a multiple position, such as a committee membership, is being filled, each voter shall vote on one ballot for a number of different candidates not exceeding the number of vacancies. A majority of the valid ballots cast, excluding blanks, is necessary to election.

b. In voting for officers and committee members, the rules of the parliamentary authority shall apply.

ARTICLE IX. Financial Affairs

Section 1. No legal obligation will be incurred by the Club unless Club assets are available to meet such obligations. The Club is aware that members may be liable for legal obligations incurred by it when its assets are insufficient to meet such obligations.

Section 2. The fiscal year shall begin on 1 July.

Section 3. Liability

a. Legal obligations should not be incurred by members if such obligations cannot be financed by the assets on hand. Members may be individually liable for legal obligations incurred in excess of the organization's funds.

b. The Club is aware that the tax-exempt status of the Society does not extend to the Club. The Club should consider from time to time whether it should make application for recognition by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c)(3) organization and shall consider taking other steps (e.g., liability insurance) in conformity with the law and in the best interests of the Club membership.

Section 4. Local dues may be levied by the Club by vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting held for annual regular elections of officers. The Treasurer shall arrange that any such dues are either collected locally or billed and collected by the Society for return to the Club.

ARTICLE X. Parliamentary Authority

The parliamentary authority of the Club is the current edition of Riddick's Rules of Procedure. The rules contained therein shall govern the Club in all cases where they apply and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws or any special rules of order the Club may adopt.

ARTICLE XI. Amendment

a. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting of the Club provided that each such amendment has originated with the Executive Committee or has been submitted in writing to the Secretary with the signature of three members, has been considered by the Executive Committee, and has been included in full together with the recommendation of the Executive Committee thereon in the announcement of that meeting sent to all members.

b. If the Executive Committee fails to consider an amendment received not less than two weeks before a meeting, it is the duty of the Secretary to include the amendment in the announcement for that meeting with the notation that it has not been considered by the Executive Committee, and it may then be brought to the membership as if it had been considered by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XII. Dissolution

Section 1. The Club may petition the Society's Board of Directors to dissolve the Club only if it has been recommended by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee, the recommendation has been made in writing to all members of the Club not less than two weeks prior to the meeting at which it is to be first considered, and again in the notice of that meeting, and it has been passed by three-fourths of the members present at that meeting and again at a special meeting held for that purpose not less than one, nor more than three months thereafter.

Section 2. If the Club should dissolve, the net assets of the Club, after satisfaction of all legal obligations, shall be conveyed to the Society.

AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Article I. Section 1. was amended July 22, 1992 to read:

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Research Triangle Park Club of Sigma Xi. Hereinafter the Research Triangle Park Club shall be referred to as the "RTP Club" or the "Club" and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, as the "Society."

Article VI. Section 2a. was amended December 2, 1993 to read:

b. The Admissions Committee consists of six Members of whom two shall be elected each year by the membership at the annual meeting. They shall take office on 1 July of the year elected and shall serve for three years or until their successors qualify. Vacancies shall be filled by the Executive Committee until the next 1 July when successors elected at the general election shall take office for the unexpired portion of the term. A chairman shall be elected from among the members of the Admissions Committee.

Article VI. Section 2b. was amended December 2, 1993 to read:

b. The Admissions Committee shall act upon all nominations for election to Member or Associate Member submitted by two Members of the Club. It is responsible for reviewing the status of all Associate Members annually, and of acting upon their promotion to Member where it finds this action appropriate.

Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, it may recommend election to the Club or promotion to full member status. At least two members of the Admissions Committee will review the application. The Chairman will be responsible for assigning the reviews and providing copies of the applications to the reviewers. Each reviewer will notify the Chairman within one month after receiving the application whether or nor admission is recommended. If the reviewers disagree, a third reviewer from the Committee will be requested by the Chairman. The decision to recommend admission will be based on two reviewers recommendations to admit the candidate. The Committee will then recommend to the membership that the applicants be admitted to the Club.

A brief summary of recommended applicants will be published in the Club newsletter. A member has thirty days from the date of the newsletter to contact the chairman of the Admissions Committee with any objections to the admission. If the Committee Chairman receives no objections during this period, membership is automatic. If there are objections, the Committee will reconsider the recommendation.

Article I. Section 3. was amended May 12, 1994 to read:

Section 3. The Club is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, including the election of members of the Society; the dissemination to the membership and to the general public of information on science, scientific research, and the interrelationships between science and society; and the recognition of excellence in scientific research. The Club as an association, shall limit its activities to those which qualify as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

Article IX. Section 3b. was amended May 12, 1994 to read:

Section 3b. No part of the net earnings of the Club shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the Club may pay reasonable compensation for services rendered in furtherance of its stated purposes. No significant part of the activities of the Club shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation; and the Club shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Club shall not carry on any other activity not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal Income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision on any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

Article XII. Section 2. was amended May 12, 1994 to read:

Section 2. Upon dissolution of the Club, the officers, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the Club, shall dispose of the assets of the Club exclusively for the purposes of the Club in such manner, or to such organization or organizations that shall be organized and operated exclusively for educational or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify them as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United State Internal Revenue Law, as the officers shall determine.

TOP

RTP Chapter of Sigma Xi · PO Box 13068 · Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 · info@rtp-sigmaxi.org