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SIGMA XI, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY |
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CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY |
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ARTICLE I. Name, Object and Activities of the Society |
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The name of this Society is SIGMA XI, THE SCIENTIFIC |
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RESEARCH SOCIETY. The Society is an honor society, and its |
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motto is: "Companions in Zealous Research," from the Greek |
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words, Σπουδον Ξυνονεσ (Spoudon Xynones). The object of this |
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society is to encourage original investigation in science, pure and |
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applied. |
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The fields of activity of the Society are the pure and applied natural |
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sciences. In general, these include the physical sciences, the life and |
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agricultural sciences, the earth sciences, the medical sciences, |
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mathematics and engineering. The activities of the Society shall be |
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those appropriate to the object of the Society and particularly those |
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set forth in the Bylaws. |
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No part of the net earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of |
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any individual including, without limitation, the directors, officers, |
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or members of the Society, except as reasonable compensation for |
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services actually rendered to the Society in effecting one or more of |
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its purposes. No significant part of the activities of the Society shall |
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consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to |
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influence legislation. The Society shall not participate in, or |
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intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), |
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any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. |
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Upon dissolution or termination of the existence of the Society, all of |
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its property and assets shall, after payment of the lawful debts of the |
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Society and the expenses of its dissolution or termination, be |
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delivered, conveyed, and paid over to such organization or |
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organizations at the time exempt under the provisions of Section 501 |
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(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as now or hereafter amended, as |
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the Board of Directors shall determine. |
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ARTICLE II. Membership in the Society |
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Section 1. Active and Inactive Membership. The Society consists |
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of active and inactive members. Active members may be affiliated |
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with a chapter. If not so affiliated, active members shall be enrolled |
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in the Membership-at-Large. Any inactive member may become an |
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active member at any time by payment of current dues. |
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Section 2. Members and Associate Members. The membership of |
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the Society is divided into Members and Associate Members, each |
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of whom shall have taken the Pledge of the Society. Such |
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membership shall be attested by a suitable certificate. Members and |
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Associate Members are elected or promoted to membership by a |
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chapter or by a committee designated by the Board of Directors. |
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Associate Members have all of the privileges of Members, except for |
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such restrictions as are specifically stated in this Constitution or in |
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the Bylaws of the Society, or in the bylaws of the chapter with which |
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the member is affiliated. |
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Section 3. Requirements for Election or Promotion to |
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Membership. A. Member. Any individual who has shown |
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noteworthy achievement as an original investigator in a field of pure |
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or applied science is eligible for election or promotion to full |
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membership in the Society. |
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B. Associate Member. Any individual who has through initial |
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research achievement in a field of pure or applied science shown |
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aptitude for research which is expected in due course to lead to the |
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fulfillment of the requirements for full membership, is eligible for |
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election to associate membership in the Society. |
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C. Procedures for Nomination, Election, Promotion and |
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Transfer. Procedures to be followed for the nomination and |
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election to membership or associate membership, for promotion |
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from Associate Member to Member, for transfer between active and |
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inactive status, for Life Membership and for transfer to emeritus |
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status are set forth in the Bylaws. |
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Section 4. Honorary Members. Notwithstanding any other |
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provisions of this Constitution, the Board of Directors, by a two- |
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thirds majority vote, shall have the power to elect Honorary |
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Members of the Society. Those nominated for such membership |
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shall be distinguished individuals, not otherwise eligible for |
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membership, who have served science, or the Society, in a manner or |
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to a degree that merits such recognition. Not more than two |
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Honorary Members may be elected in any one year. They shall hold |
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membership for life without payment of dues or fees; and shall have |
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all the privileges of other active Members, except that they shall not |
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vote nor hold office in the Society. |
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ARTICLE III. Organization of the Society |
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Section 1. Chapters. (i) The units of the Society are chapters. The |
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chapters participate in the governance of the Society in the manner |
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and to the extent set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws, which in |
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turn govern the acts, duties, responsibilities and privileges of the |
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chapters. Chapters may adopt such bylaws as are appropriate for |
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their governance, provided such bylaws do not conflict with the |
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Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. Procedures governing the |
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establishment and conduct of chapters and for the affiliation of |
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active members therewith are set forth in the Bylaws. |
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(ii) The membership-at-large participates in the governance of the |
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Society in the manner and to the extent set forth in the Constitution |
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and Bylaws. |
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Section 2. The Assembly of Delegates. A. Governance. The |
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governance of the Society rests in an Assembly of Delegates at |
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which the chapters and the membership-at-large are entitled to |
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representation as hereinafter provided. |
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B. Convening an Assembly of Delegates. An Assembly of |
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Delegates shall be convened annually in conjunction with the |
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Society's Annual Meeting which shall be held at such time and place |
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as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Notice of each |
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Annual Meeting and the Assembly of Delegates shall be given to |
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each chapter by letter, and also by announcement in the official |
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journal of the Society at least 60 days prior to convening of the |
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Assembly of Delegates. |
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C. Selection of Delegates. (i) By Chapters. Each chapter
shall be |
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entitled to be represented by not more than three delegates at the |
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Assembly of Delegates. Such delegates shall be selected from |
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among the Members of the chapter and certified by the president or |
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the secretary of said chapter except that a chapter unable to appoint |
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any or all of the delegates to which it is entitled from among its own |
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Members may appoint Members of other chapters. |
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(ii) For the Membership-at-Large. The membership-at-large is |
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entitled to be represented at the Assembly of Delegates. The manner |
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of this representation shall be set forth in the Bylaws. |
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D. Limitation of Delegates. No delegate may represent more than |
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one chapter at an Assembly of Delegates, nor shall a delegate |
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representing the membership-at-large also represent a chapter. |
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E. Board Members. Each member of the Board of Directors in |
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attendance at the Annual Meeting, but not designated as an |
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accredited delegate of a chapter or the membership-at-large shall be |
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accredited as a delegate, without vote, and as such shall have the |
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privileges of the floor in the Assembly of Delegates or in a caucus. |
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F. Quorum and Voting. At any session of a duly called Assembly |
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of Delegates the accredited delegates present shall constitute a |
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quorum for the transaction of business. All accredited delegates |
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shall have the privileges of the floor to discuss any matter before the |
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Assembly. Proponents and opponents shall be allotted equal time |
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subject only to the limitations of debate deemed necessary by the |
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presiding officer. When voting, each chapter represented by one to |
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three accredited delegates is entitled to cast one vote while each of |
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the delegates representing the membership-at-large is entitled to cast |
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one vote on each issue before the Assembly of Delegates, hereinafter |
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in this Constitution and in the Bylaws referred to as a "vote of the |
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Assembly of Delegates." |
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Section 3. Officers of the Society. A. Officers. The
officers of |
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the Society shall be a President, a President-elect, an Immediate Past |
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President, a Treasurer and an Executive Director. |
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B. Electing Officers. Officers, other than the Executive Director, |
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duly nominated, shall be elected by a plurality vote of the Assembly |
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of Delegates following procedures set forth in the Bylaws. Terms of |
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office shall commence on 1 July of the year next following election, |
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and shall continue for a period of one year for the President, |
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President-elect and Immediate Past President, and for a period of |
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four years for the Treasurer, or until their successors have been |
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elected and qualified.
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C. Succession. Upon the expiration of the term of the President,
the |
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President-elect shall become the President, the President shall |
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become the Immediate Past President and the Immediate Past |
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President shall become the most recently retired President. |
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D. Vacancies. Vacancies in the Office of President,
President-elect, |
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Immediate Past President or Treasurer shall be filled in a manner |
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prescribed in the Bylaws. |
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Section 4. Board of Directors. A. Membership. The Society |
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shall have a Board of Directors consisting of the following Directors: |
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President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, |
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Executive Director (without vote), and twelve to fifteen additional |
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Directors nominated and elected as set forth in the Bylaws. |
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B. Electing Directors. Directors shall be elected in conjunction |
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with the Assembly of Delegates following procedures set forth in the |
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Bylaws. Terms of office of Directors shall commence on 1 July of |
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the year next following election and shall continue for a period of |
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three years, or until their successors have been elected and qualified. |
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C. Duties of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall |
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manage the activities, property and affairs of the Society, subject to |
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the direction of, and in accordance with, policies established by the |
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Assembly of Delegates. Without limiting the generality of the |
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foregoing, it shall be the particular duty of the Board of Directors to: |
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consider and act on granting and revoking charters for chapters and |
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determine questions of eligibility for membership in the Society |
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where there is doubt regarding eligibility. |
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Section 5. Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. A. |
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Membership. The Board of Directors shall have an Executive |
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Committee consisting of the President, President-elect, Immediate |
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Past President, Treasurer, and two other Directors selected in |
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accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws. |
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B. Duties. Duties of the Executive Committee of the Board of |
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Directors are set forth in the Bylaws. |
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Section 6. Committees of the Society. The Society shall have a |
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Committee on Finances, a Committee on Audit Review, and a |
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Committee on Nominations, and such other committees as are |
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established by the Board of Directors. Procedures governing the |
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establishment and activities of committees are set forth in the |
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Bylaws. |
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Section 7. Meetings of the Board of Directors, its Executive |
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Committee, and Committees. Meetings of the Board of Directors |
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shall be held not less than twice annually, while the Executive |
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Committee and other committees shall meet as required. Meetings |
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of the Board of Directors and of its Executive Committee shall |
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normally be called by the President, but may be called by any other |
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officer. Meetings of a committee shall be called by the Chair, after |
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consultation with the Executive Director, but may be called by any |
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officer after consultation with the Committee Chair. Notice of a |
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meeting shall be given as provided for in the Bylaws, and the Society |
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shall reimburse directors, committee members and officers for all |
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reasonable expenses actually incurred in attending such meetings. |
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Section 8. Restriction on Membership. Only active, full Members |
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are eligible for office or membership on committees. |
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Section 9. The Executive Director. The Board of Directors, upon |
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the recommendation of its Executive Committee, shall appoint the |
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Executive Director to serve without term. Such appointment may be |
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terminated at any time by either party, provided that such termination |
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shall in no way impair such contract obligations, if any, as are in |
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effect between the two parties. Duties and responsibilities of the |
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Executive Director are set forth in the Bylaws. |
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Section 10. The Corporation. The management of the property, |
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affairs and the business of the Society is vested in a corporation |
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known as SIGMA XI, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY, |
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INCORPORATED, hereinafter and in the Bylaws referred to as the |
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Corporation. The Board of Directors of said Corporation shall be |
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identical with that of the voluntary association known as Sigma Xi, |
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The Scientific Research Society, herein and in the Bylaws referred to |
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as the Society. |
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ARTICLE IV. Dues and Expenses of the Society |
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Section 1. Dues and Fees. Annual dues, life membership fees, |
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initial fees, promotion fees and necessary assessments upon the |
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active membership shall be recommended by the Board of Directors |
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to, and authorized by, the Assembly of Delegates. Chapters may set |
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additional local dues and collect them directly or through the |
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Treasurer of the Society. Further provisions with regard to dues and |
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fees are set forth in the Bylaws. |
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Section 2. Authority for Payment. The Executive Director and the |
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Treasurer are authorized to sign vouchers on behalf of the Society in |
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payment of proper expenses of the Society. |
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Section 3. The Society's Year. The Society's Year shall commence |
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on 1 July of each year and terminate on 30 June of the succeeding |
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year. |
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ARTICLE V. Motto, Seal and Insignia of the Society |
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The Motto of the Society is set forth in Article I of this Constitution. |
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The Monogram of the Society shall be the Greek letter S
(Sigma) |
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superimposed on the Greek letter X (Xi). The
Seal of the Society |
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shall incorporate the monogram and the motto, and is described in |
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the Bylaws. The insignia of the Society are described in the Bylaws.
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ARTICLE VI. Amendment of the Constitution |
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This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of |
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the Assembly of Delegates, provided that the amendment has first |
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been considered by the Board of Directors and is presented, together |
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with its recommendation for approval or disapproval, to the chapters |
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not less than 60 days prior to the convening of the Assembly of |
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Delegates at which it is to be considered. The publication of the |
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proposed amendment in the official journal of the Society shall |
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constitute full notice as required by this Article. An exception to this |
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procedure may be made in the case of a minor modification proposed |
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from the floor of the Assembly of Delegates and adopted by a two- |
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thirds vote of said Assembly, provided that the modification does not |
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alter the intent of the amendment offered in the normal manner |
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herein prescribed. |
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ARTICLE VII. Bylaws |
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Bylaws as necessary for the proper governance of the Society may be |
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enacted or modified by the vote of two-thirds of the members of the |
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Board of Directors entitled to vote, to become operative not less than |
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90 days after adoption provided that such Bylaws do not in any way |
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modify or conflict with this Constitution and that each chapter shall |
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have been advised of the amendment to the Bylaws within 30 days |
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after its adoption, and further provided that, if more than one chapter |
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shall object in writing to the Executive Director within 90 days after |
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its adoption, said amendment shall be held in abeyance until the next |
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Assembly of Delegates, at which time a majority vote of the |
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Assembly of Delegates shall be required for its adoption and for it to |
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become immediately operational. Bylaws, or amendments to |
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existing Bylaws, that are required as a consequence of changes in the |
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Constitution may be enacted by a majority vote of the Assembly of |
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Delegates at the time that the change in the Constitution is approved |
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by the Assembly. The proposed changes in the Bylaws shall have |
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received prior consideration by the Board of Directors and shall be |
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presented to the chapters with the relevant proposed amendment to |
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the Constitution, in the manner prescribed in Article VI. |
