Northern California Chapter Society for Risk Analysis

By-Laws
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the organization shall be the Northern California Chapter (hereinafter designated as the Chapter) of the Society for Risk Analysis (hereinafter designated as the Society).

ARTICLE II
Objectives
The objectives of the Chapter are consistent with the objectives of the Society. In particular, the objectives of the Chapter are

1. To serve as the focal point for interaction of members of the Society and other interested individuals and organizations in the Northern California area.
2. To further understanding, awareness, and appropriate applications of risk analysis, and to promote an exchange of ideas and practical experiences among members of the academic, professional, industrial, and regulatory communities involved in risk analysis and risk management in Northern California.
3. To hold scientific and educational meetings.
4. To act as a resource for and provide support to the Society.

ARTICLE III
Chapter-Society Relationship
Section 1. The activities of the Chapter and its members shall be governed by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society and the By-Laws of the Chapter.

Section 2. The Chapter shall not have authority to act for or in the name of the Society. No action, financial or other obligation or expression of the Chapter as a whole without prior approval of the Executive Board of the Society shall be considered an action, obligation or expression of the Society.

Section 3. Chapter policy shall be set by the Chapter Executive Committee. An annual report concerning the Chapter shall be submitted by the Chapter Secretary to the business office of the Society prior to the Annual Meeting of the Society. The report shall describe the financial and membership status of the Chapter and major scientific and educational activities during the year.

ARTICLE IV
Membership
Section 1. A member in good standing of the Society shall automatically become a member of the Chapter upon payment of Chapter dues. Chapter membership in good standing is dependent upon payment of Chapter dues for the current year within the same time limit as established for the Society.

Section 2. A person who is not a member of the Society may become an associate member of the Chapter. The Executive Committee of the Chapter shall serve as the Committee on Admissions and shall be responsible for examining the credentials of prospective associate members. Election to membership in the Chapter under the provisions of this Section requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee. Associate members shall not hold office and they are not eligible to vote in Chapter matters.

Section 3. Additional classes of membership such as Sustaining, Honorary, or others, may be added by the Chapter, subject to the approval of the Executive Board of the Society.

ARTICLE V
Chapter Officers and Councilors
Section 1. The Officers Of the Chapter are the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

Section 2. The President and President-Elect shall have one-year terms in office. At the initiation of the Chapter both will be elected; in subsequent years the President-Elect shall serve as President.for one year following his/her term as President-Elect.

Section 3. The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve staggered two-year terms in office. At the initiation of the Chapter, the Secretary shall be elected to a two-year term and the Treasurer to a one-year term. In subsequent years, these Officers shall be elected alternately to serve two-year terms.

Section 4. There shall be three Councilors. At the initiation of the Chapter, two shall be elected to one-year terms and one shall be elected to a two-year term. In subsequent years, the immediate past President will serve a one-year term as Councilor; the other two Councilors will be elected on alternate years to two-year terms.

Section 5. Chapter elections shall be held annually to coincide with those of the Society. Ballots shall be mailed by the Secretary to the membership no later than four months before the next annual meeting of the Society. Completed ballots returned to the Chapter Secretary shall be valid if postmarked no later than 30 days after the date on which ballots were mailed, and if the envelope containing the ballot bears the signature of the member. The Secretary and at least two members of the Executive Committee shall tally the ballots. All elections are to be decided by a plurality of the Chapter members voting. Ties shall be settled by a suitable lottery.

Section 6. Nominations may be made by the Nominating Committee or by petition of five Chapter members in good standing. There must be at least two nominees for each position to be elected, and nominations must be submitted to the Secretary at least one month prior to the mailing of ballots.

Section 7. In the event of a vacancy in the offices of Secretary or Treasurer, or any Councilor position, the Executive Committee may make an appointment to fill the vacancy until the unexpired term is completed. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the President-Elect shall succeed to that office and continue as President for the succeeding term. In the event of a vacancy in the Office of President-Elect, the Executive Committee shall provide for a special election.

Section 8. Recall of any elected Officer or Councilor shall be by written ballot and shall require a two-thirds majority of the Chapter members voting provided that at least 50 percent of the Chapter members in good standing vote for recall. Such recall shall be initiated by a petition signed by at least 20 percent of the Chapter members in good standing.

Section 9. Officers, Councilors and nominees for these offices must be full members in good standing of the Society and the Chapter.

ARTICLE VI
Administration
Section 1. The Chapter shall be governed by the Executive Committee except as otherwise herein expressly provided.

Section 2. The Executiue Committee shall consist of the four Officers and three Councilors.

Section 3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Committee and shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee. In the President's absence, the President-Elect shall preside. If both the President and President-Elect are absent, the Executive Committee shall designate a temporary chairperson.

Section 4. Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 5. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Committee; shall carry on the correspondence of the Chapter; and shall keep an accurate list of the members and their status. Minutes of the meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee shall be promptly submitted to the Executive Committee for approval.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Chapter and shall pay all authorized bills incurred by the Chapter. The disbursement of Chapter funds shall be made only upon authorization of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall submit the accounts for audit at the last meeting of the Executive Committee prior to the Annual Meeting of the Chapter, and shall transmit to his/her successor in office all funds and property of the Chapter in his/her possession.

ARTICLE VII
Committees
Section 1. In addition to the Executive Committee there shall be Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees.

Section 2. The Standing Committees shall be the Program Committee and the Nominating Committee.

Section 3. The President-Elect shall be the Chairperson of the Program Committee. All other committee chairpersons shall be appointed by the President with approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. The Program Committee shall develop scientific and educational programs for the Chapter.

Section 5. A Nominating Committee consisting of not less than three members shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Chapter within two months following the installation of the current slate of officers. The Nominating Committee will prepare the slate of candidates for each Chapter election on a timely basis, and as specified in Article V.

ARTICLE VIII
Meetings
Section 1. An annual business meeting of the Chapter shall be held at which reports of the Officers shall be made. The time and place of the annual meeting together with the agenda shall be communicated to the membership at least 10 days prior to the meeting.

Section 2. Other meetings may be called by the President or the Program Committee at any time, with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Executive Committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President, provided that each of the members of the Committee is notified at least seven days prior to the meeting.

Section 4. Standing Committees shall meet at least once each year, and shall be convened at the discretion of the Chairperson.

ARTICLE IX
Dues
Section 1. The dues schedule shall be established by the Executive Committee and shall be reviewed annually. Dues may not exceed $15 per year.

Section 2. Revisions of the maximum dues schedule may be made in the same fashion as amendments to these By-Laws, except that they will not require approval of the Society.

ARTICLE X
Amendments
Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended at an Annual or special meeting of the Chapter, provided that a written notice of the meeting, together with the text of the proposed amendments and of any existing articles thereby affected, has been mailed to the members by the Secretary at least ten (10) days before the meeting at which a vote will be taken.

Section 2. Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by petition of at least 10 full members in good standing. Amendments must be presented to the Secretary at least two months before the meeting at which the vote on them will be taken.

Section 3. Adoption of a proposed amendment to these By-Laws shall require the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members voting, provided that at least 20 percent of the members in good standing are present and voting.

Amended, January 1995

Article V, Section 4: "There shall be at least three and up to five Councilors. At the initiation of the Chapter, two shall be elected to one-year terms and the remainder shall be elected to two-year terms. In subsequent years, the immediate past President will serve a one-year term as Councilor; the other Councilors will be elected on alternate years to two-year terms."


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©Society for Risk Analysis Revised February 22, 2006 URL: http://www.sra.org/ncc