St. Louis Section–ACS
Bylaws
 

1. BYLAW I - Name and Objects

   1. Section 1.

      This organization shall be known as the ST. LOUIS SECTION, INC. of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, hereinafter referred to as the “Section.” The Section is an incorporated organization duly organized and existing under the “General Not-For-Profit Act” of the State of Missouri.

   2. Section 2.

      The objects of the Section shall be the promotion and advancement of chemistry in all its branches and the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of chemical practitioners through high standards of professional ethics, education, and attainments.

   3. Section 3.

      No provisions of the Section bylaws shall be inconsistent with the Charter, Constitution, and Bylaws of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, hereinafter referred to as the “SOCIETY.”

2. BYLAW II - Territory

   The territory of the Section shall be that assigned by the Council of the SOCIETY.

3. BYLAW III - Members and Affiliates

   1. Section 1.

      The members of the Section shall be all MEMBERS and ASSOCIATE MEMBERS of the SOCIETY residing in the territory of the Section; exceptions to this rule shall be consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the SOCIETY.

   2. Section 2.

      National Affiliates of the SOCIETY are assigned to the Section by the SOCIETY. National Affiliates of the Section shall have the rights and privileges accorded in the Constitution and Bylaws of the SOCIETY.

   3. Section 3.

      Upon approval of the Board of Directors, any person interested in the proceedings of the Section but not a member or National Affiliate of the SOCIETY may become a Local Section Affiliate. Local Section Affiliates shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership in the Section as provided in these bylaws, except those of voting and serving on the Board of Directors.

4. BYLAW IV - Officers, Directors, and Councilors

   1. Section 1.

      The officers, Directors, Councilors, and Alternate Councilors shall be chosen from the MEMBERS and elected by the members of the Section.

   2. Section 2.

      The officers of the Section shall be: Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Chair and Chair-Elect shall be President and Vice-President, respectively, of the corporation. Each officer shall serve until a successor is elected. Each term of office shall be for one year and shall begin on January 1 following the election.

   3. Section 3.

      1. The Chair or, if absent, the Chair-Elect shall preside at the meetings of the Section and of the Board of Directors.
      2. The Chair shall appoint the Chair of each standing committee before or at the January Board of Directors meeting. The Chair may form ad hoc committees.
      3. The Chair shall prepare and submit an annual report as specified in the SOCIETY Bylaws.
      4. The Chair shall deliver an address to the Section within the first four months following retirement from office.

   4. Section 4.

      1. The Chair-Elect shall form and be Chair of the Steering Committee. The other members of the committee shall be the Immediate Past Chair, Chair, Secretary, and two other Section members. The purpose of the Steering Committee is to provide long-range planning for the Section and to work specifically on tasks or problems assigned to it by the Board of Directors. The Steering Committee also shall be responsible for reviewing the Section bylaws from time to time.
      2. The Chair-Elect shall become Chair immediately following a term as Chair-Elect, or upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Chair. In the event that a Chair-Elect becomes Chair by the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Chair-Elect shall complete that term of office as Chair and shall in addition serve a full year as Chair.

   5. Section 5.

      The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Section, the Board of Directors, and the Steering Committee. The Secretary shall, in cooperation with the Board of Directors, make regularly required reports to the SOCIETY. The Secretary shall, under the direction of the Chair, issue notices to the members and affiliates of the Section and to the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall bring to the attention of the Board of Directors all communications directed to the Section or its representatives, and shall perform all other duties usual to the office. The Secretary may be allowed funds for clerical assistance as approved by the Board of Directors.

   6. Section 6.

      1. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds belonging to the Section except as may be otherwise stipulated by the Board of Directors. After consultation with the Steering Committee and the Chair of each standing committee, the Treasurer shall submit a budget of proposed expenditures for the current year for approval by the Board of Directors at its January meeting.
      2. The Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing the collection of Section dues from members and affiliates. The Treasurer shall make all disbursements provided that all bills incurred shall be approved in writing either by the Chair of the standing committee involved or by an officer of the Section other than the Treasurer. The Chair of the Section shall be authorized to disburse funds in the event the Treasurer is unable to exercise the office.
      3. The Treasurer, after consultation with the Chair, may appoint Assistant Treasurers to aid in dues collection, publication finance, budget control, or other matters; but only the Treasurer may disburse funds as provided above.
      4. The Treasurer shall make written reports to the Section throughout the fiscal year showing the financial condition of the Section. The Treasurer also shall make regularly required reports to the SOCIETY.

   7. Section 7.

      1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the Section, the Immediate Past Chair, six Directors, the Councilors, and the Chair of each standing committee.
      2. The Board of Directors shall be the Executive Committee responsible for managing all affairs of the Section not otherwise specifically provided for in these bylaws, and shall make appointments necessary to conduct the affairs of the Section.
      3. Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote. Any member of the Board of Directors holding two or more positions shall have voting power pertaining to only one position.

   8. Section 8.

      Councilors and Alternate Councilors shall represent the Section for a term of three years in the Council of the SOCIETY. A partial term of one or two years shall be used whenever necessary to establish or restore rotation of three-year terms. If any Councilor is unable to be present at a Council meeting of the SOCIETY, the Councilor shall notify the Board of Directors, through the Secretary, of such probable absence in sufficient time to permit selection of a substitute from among the Alternate Councilors. The Board of Directors may advise the Councilors before they attend the Council meeting of the SOCIETY. The Councilors shall in turn report to the Board of Directors.

   9. Section 9.

      No salary shall be paid to any officer of the Section. Expenses incurred by officers and the Section as approved by the Board of Directors may pay committees in performance of their duties.

5. BYLAW V - Standing Committees

   1. Section 1.

      The standing committees of the Section shall be Program, Awards, Professional Activities, Education, and Publicity and Public Relations. The work of each of these standing committees shall be under the direction of its Chair except as otherwise provided in these bylaws. Each standing committee Chair shall submit an annual written report to the Board of Directors, and shall make such other reports as requested by the Board of Directors.

   2. Section 2.

      The Program Committee shall arrange programs and secure speakers for meetings of the Section.

   3. Section 3.

      The Awards Committee shall carry out all steps necessary for administering awards bestowed by the Section.

   4. Section 4.

      The Professional Activities Committee shall have charge of activities which relate to professional affairs of Section members.

   5. Section 5.

      The Education Committee shall encourage chemical education and provide Section members with opportunities for continued education.

   6. Section 6.

      The Publicity and Public Relations Committee shall maintain communications among the members and affiliates as well as between the Section and other parties.

6. BYLAW VI - Finances

   1. Section 1.

      The fiscal year of the Section shall be from January 1 to December 31, inclusive.

   2. Section 2.

      Section dues are payable at the beginning of each fiscal year. Section dues for members and National Affiliates are voluntary, and no differences in privileges or Section services shall result from non-payment. The dues of Local Section Affiliates shall be determined by the Board of Directors, but shall not be less than $2.00 per annum. However, a regularly matriculated student specializing in a chemical science may be accepted as a Local Section Affiliate on payment of $1.00 per annum. Local Section Affiliates shall pay dues by June 1 to maintain Section affiliation, except that the Board of Directors may waive Section dues in granting affiliate status to Student Affiliates of the SOCIETY.

   3. Section 3.

      1. Through the Board of Directors, the Section may accept gifts or bequests, hereinafter referred to as “Special Funds.” The Investment Trustees on behalf of the Section in accordance with the instructions of the donor or donors shall administer the Special Funds and other investments. The Board of Directors, consistent with the terms of the gifts or bequests, shall authorize withdrawals and appropriations from the Special Funds and other investments, for purposes other than reinvestment.
      2. The Board of Directors shall appoint no less than three Investment Trustees from the Section membership. At least one Investment Trustee shall be a Director. The term of each Investment Trustee shall be three years. Provision may be made by the Board of Directors to stagger the terms of the Investment Trustees. The Board of Directors may replace any Investment Trustee at any time.
      3. In January, the Investment Trustees shall report to the Board of Directors, in writing, all investment transactions of the previous year and the status of the Special Funds.

   4. Section 4.

      In December, the Chair shall appoint an Audit Committee of three members. The Audit Committee shall examine the books and annual financial report of the Treasurer, and the assets of the Section. The Audit Committee shall report its results at the Board of Directors meeting in January. If authorized by the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee may employ a certified public accountant to make the audit.

7. BYLAW VII - Publications

   1. Section 1.

      The Section shall publish a bulletin, hereinafter referred to as the Chemical Bond, in accordance with instructions from the Board of Directors.

   2. Section 2.

      A directory of the Section shall be published from time to time as deemed advisable by the Board of Directors. The Publicity and Public Relations Committee Chair shall be Directory Editor in charge of compiling, publishing, and distributing the directory.

8. BYLAW VIII - Groups

   Members and affiliates of the Section interested in a specialized field of chemistry may, with approval of the Board of Directors, organize as a group of the Section. The Board of Directors shall determine privileges and obligations of each group from time to time. Any rules for operation adopted by a group shall conform to the bylaws of the Section and shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

9. BYLAW IX - Meetings

   1. Section 1.

      The location of any meeting shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

   2. Section 2.

      Twenty-five members shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at a general meeting of the Section. The Chair may call special general meetings. The Chair shall call a special general meeting if requested to do so in writing by three percent of the membership.

   3. Section 3.

      Section members, National Affiliates, and Local Section Affiliates shall be notified of each meeting of the Section in advance of such meeting. Upon request, the Secretary may send a notice of any meeting to any person who may be interested. Notices shall not be sent regularly for a period longer than one year to any person who is neither a member of the SOCIETY nor an affiliate of the Section.

   4. Section 4.

      1. In January, the Board of Directors shall schedule Board of Directors meetings each month of the year except June, July, and August.
      2. Special Board of Directors meetings may be called by the Chair or any four members of the Board of Directors.
      3. The regular order of business of a Board of Directors meeting shall be as follows:
         1. Call to order
         2. Reading of minutes of the previous meeting
         3. Reports from officers, committees, Directors, and Councilors
         4. Unfinished and new business
         5. Adjournment
      4. The order of business for any one Board of Directors meeting may be altered by the Chair with consent of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors present.
      5. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
      6. Minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be taken by the Secretary. Such minutes shall be open to inspection by any Section member.
      7. The December Board of Directors meeting shall include summary reports of the Section's activities for the year.

   5. Section 5.

      The most recent edition of “Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised” shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters not covered in these bylaws.

10. BYLAW X - Elections

    1. Section 1.

       All members of the Section shall be eligible to vote.

    2. Section 2.

       The officers, Directors, Councilors, and Alternate Councilors of the Section shall be chosen by mail ballot in October and shall take office the following January 1. All officers shall hold office for one year; all Directors, for two years; all Councilors and Alternate Councilors, for three years. No MEMBER shall be eligible to hold more than one elective position on the Board of Directors at one time. In the event of a vacancy, except that of the office of Chair, the Board of Directors may call a special election or make an appointment for the unexpired term.

    3. Section 3.

       1. The Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members and select its Chair before or at the February Board of Directors meeting.
       2. The Secretary shall prepare a nominating ballot for the elective officers, the three Directors, and the Councilors and Alternate Councilors by April 1, and have this ballot in the hands of the Section members by May 1.
       3. The Secretary shall turn over all nominating ballots received by May 31 to the Chair of the Nominating Committee.

    4. Section 4.

       1. The Nominating Committee shall tally the nominations and prepare an election ballot. For each office to be filled, there shall be not more than two candidates; for Directors, Councilors, and Alternate Councilors, not more than twice as many candidates as vacancies to be filled.
       2. Should any MEMBER receive nominating votes sufficient to entitle the MEMBER to be a candidate for more than one elective position, the Nominating Committee shall notify the MEMBER. The Nominating Committee, after consulting with said MEMBER, shall decide for which office the MEMBER shall be a candidate.
       3. Under the title of each position on the election ballot, the Nominating Committee shall list alphabetically the names of the candidates without any other designation.
       4. The list of candidates for each office shall include the name of the consenting MEMBER receiving the largest number of nominating votes for that office, provided that the number of votes so received equals or exceeds three percent of the number of eligible voters. For the second candidate, the Nominating Committee may choose the consenting MEMBER securing the second highest number of nominating votes or a candidate of its own selection. The Nominating Committee shall name at least one candidate for each office when none is determined by the nominating ballots as herein provided.
       5. The list of candidates for Directors shall include the names of the three consenting MEMBERS receiving the largest number of nominating votes, provided that the number of votes so received equals or exceeds three percent of the number of eligible voters. To this list the Nominating Committee shall add the names of consenting MEMBERS, either from those receiving the next highest number of nominating votes, or a candidate or candidates of its own selection. The Nominating Committee shall name at least one candidate for each position of Director when none is determined by the nominating ballots as herein provided.
       6. For each position to be filled, the list of candidates for Councilors and Alternate Councilors shall include the name of the consenting MEMBER receiving the largest number of nominating votes, provided that the number of votes so received equals or exceeds three percent of the number of eligible voters. For the second candidate for each position, the Nominating Committee shall add the name of the consenting MEMBER receiving the second largest number of nominating votes, or a candidate or candidates selected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall name at least one candidate for each position of Councilor and Alternate Councilor when none is determined by the nominating ballots as herein provided.
       7. The Nominating Committee shall certify the election ballot to the Secretary.

    5. Section 5.

       1. The Secretary shall authorize the printing of election ballots and their inclusion with the October issue of the Chemical Bond.
       2. The candidates for each office and position of Director, Councilor, and Alternate Councilor shall be noted in the Chemical Bond. With the name of each candidate shall be printed the candidate's professional affiliation, together with any offices and committee positions previously held in the Section and the SOCIETY.
       3. The voter shall mark the election ballot, seal it in a plain envelope marked "Ballot," and place the sealed envelope in another envelope which shall bear the voter's handwritten signature. The voter shall mail, transmit, or deliver the signed envelope to reach the Secretary on or before October 31.

    6. Section 6.

       1. On or before October 31, the Chair of the Section shall appoint three tellers. The tellers shall meet with the Secretary on or before November 7 to judge the election. First they shall check the signatures on the envelopes received not later than October 31 against the eligible list of voters, and set aside, unopened, those not eligible. The eligible ballots then shall be opened and the valid ballots tabulated. Only official printed ballots are valid. All eligible and ineligible ballots shall be held for sixty days by the Secretary to permit a recheck and a recount, if demanded.
       2. The Secretary shall certify the tabulation to the Section Chair. The Secretary then shall declare duly elected the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each office and position of Director, Councilor, and Alternate Councilor. In the event of a tie vote, the names of those involved shall be certified to the Board of Directors, who shall resolve the tie. The Chair shall announce the election results at the November Board of Directors meeting. The Secretary shall certify the election to the Executive Director of the SOCIETY no later than November 15. The Secretary shall publish the election results in the Chemical Bond.
       3. Any candidate shall have the right to demand a recount within ten days after the official announcement of the election results at the November Board of Directors meeting. In such event, the same tellers, unless new ones are designated by the Section Chair, shall officiate with the Secretary.

    7. Section 7.

       If, for any reason, it shall be impossible to execute the provision of these bylaws regarding times and dates of nomination and election, the Board of Directors shall arrange for nomination and election in accordance with the spirit of these bylaws so far as possible.

11. BYLAW XI - Midwest Award

    1. Section 1.

       An award may be given annually by the Section under conditions set forth in this bylaw. The award shall be known as the “Midwest Award.”

    2. Section 2.

       Persons eligible for the Midwest Award are those who have made meritorious contributions to the advancement of pure or applied chemistry, or chemical education. These contributions must have been made during a period of residence in the geographic area defined by the territories of the Local Sections that participate in the Midwest Regional Meeting of the SOCIETY. Nominees need not be members of the SOCIETY.

    3. Section 3.

       The Chair of the Awards Committee shall be responsible for obtaining nominations for the Midwest Award.

    4. Section 4.

       Nominations shall be closed no later than March 31 or an alternate date set by the Board of Directors.

    5. Section 5.

       1. The recipient of the Midwest Award shall be selected by an award jury. The Midwest Award Jury shall make its selection from the list of nominees submitted. The Midwest Award Jury may vote to select no awardee. Members of the Midwest Award Jury and the Awards Committee shall not be eligible for the Midwest Award.
       2. The Midwest Award Jury shall consist of eleven members. Six voting members shall be members of the Section, two appointed each year by the Chair of the Section and approved by the Board of Directors. The jury term for those serving from the Section shall be three years. Two voting members shall become members of the Midwest Award Jury by acceptance of an invitation from the Section Chair to persons from two other Local Sections located within the area as defined in Section 2 of this bylaw. The jury term for those serving by invitation shall be one year. In the event of a vacancy, the Chair shall appoint or invite a person in like manner as above to fill the unexpired term. The Chair, Chair-Elect, and Secretary of the Section also shall be members of the Midwest Award Jury without voting power except in the event of a deadlock vote, in which case the three nonvoting members shall vote. Nominators or seconders of a nomination shall not be eligible to serve on the Midwest Award Jury.
       3. It is the intent that the Midwest Award Jury meet to discuss the respective merits of the candidates. Under no circumstance shall selection of the recipient be made by less than six voting members.
       4. By June 30, or an alternate date set by the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall notify the Board of Directors of the person selected by the Midwest Award Jury to receive the award. The person selected shall be notified immediately thereafter, in writing, by the Chair of the Section.

    6. Section 6.

       A condition of acceptance of the Midwest Award shall be that the recipient deliver an address upon either the subject of the recipient's work or one of general interest to the profession. The address is to be made at the time of presentation of the Midwest Award.

    7. Section 7.

       The Midwest Award shall consist of a medallion and an honorarium of at least $2000 to be established by the Board of Directors. Funding and expenses for the Midwest Award are to be provided from Special Funds dedicated to this purpose.

12. BYLAW XII - St. Louis Section ACS Award

    1. Section 1.

       An award may be given annually by the Section under conditions set forth in this bylaw. The award shall be known as the “St. Louis Section ACS Award.”

    2. Section 2.

       Persons eligible for nomination for the St. Louis Section ACS Award are members or affiliates of the Section with the following exceptions: the Chair, Immediate Past Chair, members of the Awards Committee, and prior recipients of either the St. Louis Section ACS Award, the Midwest Award, or any SOCIETY sponsored award.

    3. Section 3.

       The St. Louis Section ACS Award shall be presented for outstanding contributions to the profession of chemistry and demonstrated potential to further the advancement of the chemical profession. It is preferred that the St. Louis Section ACS Award recognize these abilities relatively early in the awardee's career.

    4. Section 4.

       The Chair of the Awards Committee shall be responsible for obtaining nominations for the St.  Louis Section ACS Award.

    5. Section 5.

       Nominations shall be closed no later than November 30 or an alternate date set by the Board of Directors.

    6. Section 6.

       1. The recipient of the St. Louis Section ACS Award shall be selected by an award jury. The St.  Louis Section ACS Award Jury may vote to select no awardee.
       2. The St. Louis Section ACS Award Jury shall consist of the Directors and the Immediate Past Chair of the Section who shall serve as Chair of the jury. The Chair of the jury shall vote only in the event of a tie. In the event that a Director is ineligible to serve on the St.  Louis Section ACS Award Jury due to reasons listed below, the Section Chair shall appoint a Section member to replace said Director, subject to confirmation by the Board of Directors. No person may serve on the St. Louis Section ACS Award Jury who is a current nominee or either a nominator or seconder of a nomination for the St. Louis Section ACS Award.
       3. It is the intent that the St. Louis Section ACS Award Jury meet to discuss the respective merits of the candidates.
       4. The St. Louis Section ACS Award Jury shall notify the Section Chair of its selection within six weeks of its receipt of the nominations. The person selected shall be notified immediately, in writing, by the Section Chair.

    7. Section 7.

       The St. Louis Section ACS Award shall be presented at a banquet honoring the awardee, who is expected to deliver an address at that time.

    8. Section 8.

       The St. Louis Section ACS Award shall consist of an engraved plaque, a citation, and an honorarium of at least $1000 to be established by the Board of Directors. Funding and expenses for the St. Louis Section ACS Award are to be provided from Special Funds dedicated to this purpose.

13. BYLAW XIII - St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award

    1. Section 1.

       An award may be given annually by the Section under conditions set forth in this bylaw. The award shall be known as the “St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award.”

    2. Section 2.

       Persons eligible for the St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award are Section members.

    3. Section 3.

       The St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award shall be presented for excellent contributions, outstanding leadership, and continuing service to the Section.

    4. Section 4.

       The recipient of the St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award shall be selected by the Steering Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The Steering Committee may elect to recommend that no award be given.

    5. Section 5.

       The St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award shall be presented at an annual member recognition event of the Section.

    6. Section 6.

       The St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award shall be an engraved plaque. Funding and expenses for the St. Louis Section ACS Distinguished Service Award are to be provided by the Section.

14. BYLAW XIV - Bylaws and Amendments

    1. Section 1.

       A certified copy of these bylaws, provided by the Secretary of the Council of the SOCIETY, shall be retained by the Secretary of the Section.

    2. Section 2.

       These bylaws may be amended only as follows:

       1. A proposed amendment in writing signed by at least five Section members may be submitted to the Secretary at any time.
       2. The Secretary shall send a copy of the proposed amendment to each member of the Board of Directors. The proposed amendment shall be acted on at the next Board of Directors meeting.
       3. If the proposed amendment is approved by the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall furnish a copy to each member with a notice of the next general meeting of the Section at least two weeks in advance of such meeting. The proposed amendment shall be voted on at that general meeting. In determining the meeting herein referred to, any social meeting shall be excluded.
       4. The proposed amendment shall be adopted if it receives an affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members present and voting.
       5. If a proposed amendment is not approved by the Board of Directors, it may be brought to the members for a vote in an alternative manner. A petition signed by at least forty Section members or three percent of the Section members, whichever is larger, may be submitted to the Secretary. The procedure subsequently followed for general announcement of the proposed amendment and voting shall be identical to that followed for a proposed amendment approved by the Board of Directors.

    3. Section 3.

       An amendment shall become effective upon approval by the SOCIETY Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, acting for the Council of the SOCIETY, unless a later date is specified.

15. BYLAW XV - Dissolution

    Upon dissolution of the Section, any assets of the Section remaining thereafter shall be conveyed by action of the governing body of the Section either to the SOCIETY or to an organization then existent, inside or outside the territory of the Section, and dedicated to objectives similar to those of the SOCIETY, provided that the organization designated shall be qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or under such successor provision of the Code as may be in effect at the time of the Section's dissolution.

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