Akron Section Bylaws – Update

Published 11/17/2024

ACS National has informed the Akron Section of the ACS that our current local section bylaws are out-of-date and no longer consistent with the ACS governing documents. The Akron Section of the ACS executive committee have drafted updated bylaws (posted below) following the ACS governing documents. A vote of local section membership is required to adopt these bylaws and that vote is included as part of the annual election for local section officers (local section members will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to vote).


*BYLAWS OF THE

AKRON SECTION

of the

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

BYLAW I

Name

This organization shall be known as the Akron Section (hereinafter referred to as “the Section”) of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (hereinafter referred to as “the SOCIETY).” The Section is incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio.

BYLAW II

Purposes

Section 1. The Purposes of the Section shall be those of the SOCIETY as stated in the ACS Governing Documents, which consist of the Charter, Constitution, Bylaws, Standing Rules, Schedule of Dues and Benefits, and Regulations. In particular, the Purposes shall be to encourage the advancement of chemistry in all its branches; to promote research in chemical science and industry; to improve the education, qualifications and usefulness of chemists; and to educate the general public about the usefulness of chemistry through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, and outreach activities.

Section 2. Nothing in these bylaws shall be inconsistent with the ACS Governing Documents.

Section 3. The Section is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

BYLAW III

Territory

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

BYLAW IV

Members and Affiliates

Section 1. The rolls of the Section shall include those MEMBERS and STUDENT MEMBERS (hereinafter collectively referred to as “members”) and Society Affiliates of the SOCIETY residing within the territory of the Section provided that any exceptions to this rule shall be made in conformity with the ACS Governing Documents.

Section 2. STUDENT MEMBERS shall be entitled to all privileges of membership unless otherwise specified.

  1. They may not hold an elective position of the SOCIETY.
  2.  They may not serve as a Councilor, Alternate Councilor, or Temporary Substitute Councilor.
  3. They may not serve as an officer of the Section.
  4. They may not hold an elective position of the Section as noted elsewhere in these bylaws.
  5. They may be appointed as a committee chair.

Section 3. Society Affiliates may be assessed dues in the amount specified by the Executive Committee. A Society Affiliate may not (1) hold an elective position, (2) vote on Articles of Incorporation and bylaws of the Section, (3) vote for Councilor(s) or Alternate Councilor(s), or (4) serve as a voting member of the Executive Committee. Except as mentioned above, a Society Affiliate may not vote for an elective position of the Section but may be appointed a committee chair.

Section 4. The Section may have Local Section Affiliates, who are neither members nor Society Affiliates, as authorized in the ACS Governing Documents. A Local Section Affiliate shall retain affiliate status only so long as payment is made of Local Section Affiliate dues of not less than two dollars ($2.00) per annum. A Local Section Affiliate may not (1) hold an elective position, (2) vote on Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, (3) vote for Councilor(s) or Alternate Councilor(s), or (4) serve as a voting member of the Executive Committee. Except as mentioned above, a Local Section Affiliate may not vote for an elective position of the Section but may be appointed as a committee chair.

Section 5. Members and affiliates, which includes Society Affiliates and Local Section Affiliates, shall have such rights and privileges as accorded to them by the ACS Governing Documents and these bylaws.

BYLAW V

Officers, Executive Committee, and Councilor(s)

Section 1. The officers of the Section shall be MEMBERS of the SOCIETY and the Section, and shall consist of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Secretary and Treasurer positions may be held by the same person.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the Section and as such shall have full power to conduct, manage, and direct the business and affairs of the Section in accordance with the ACS Governing Documents and these bylaws. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Section, the Immediate Past Chair, the Councilor(s), and Alternate Councilor(s) and, as nonvoting members, the chairs of the standing committees.

Section 3. Terms of Office

  1. The Chair shall serve for a term of one year beginning on January 1 following election or until a successor takes office. The Chair is not eligible for reelection and may not serve in the position of another Section officer until the end of the term as Immediate Past Chair. The Chair may be eligible for reelection should the Chair-Elect become unavailable to succeed to the office of Chair.
  2. The Chair-Elect shall serve for a term coincident with that of the Chair and is not eligible for reelection. At the end of the Chair-Elect’s term of office, the Chair-Elect shall succeed to the office of Chair.
  3. The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve for a term of one year beginning on January 1 following election or until their duly elected successors take office.
  4. Unless specified elsewhere in these bylaws, the incumbent of any position is eligible for reelection.

Section 4. The duties of the officers shall be such as usually pertain to their offices, together with those required by these bylaws and by the ACS Governing Documents, and such other duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the Executive Committee.

  1. The duties of the Chair shall be to preside at meetings of the Executive Committee, to carry into effect the decisions and recommendations of that Committee, to preside at business meetings of the Section to conduct governance business, and to appoint, with the approval of the Executive Committee, all committee chairs and others serving on committees, as provided elsewhere in these bylaws, and to carry out the duties required by these bylaws and the ACS Governing Documents. The Chair shall sign checks for the disbursement of funds that have been approved by the Executive Committee and duly recorded by the Treasurer of the Section.
  2. The duties of the Chair-Elect shall be to assist the Chair with the direction and management of the Section. In the absence of the Chair, the duties of the office shall devolve upon the Chair-Elect. The Chair-Elect shall serve as Chair of the Program Committee and, in the absence of the chair, sign checks for the disbursement of funds approved by the Executive Committee and duly recorded by the Treasurer of the Section.
  3. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep a record of the minutes of the meetings of the Section to conduct governance business and of the Executive Committee, to maintain a list of members and affiliates, to distribute to members and affiliates such notices as the business of the Section may require, and to carry out the duties required by these bylaws and the ACS Governing Documents. The Secretary shall preside over meetings in the absence of both the Chair and Chair-Elect.
  4. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to keep full and accurate books of accounts containing records of all monies received and expended by the Section from whatever source. The Treasurer shall have the power to approve petty cash (less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00)) expenditures and shall make disbursements for them. The Treasurer shall render an account of all transactions, including petty cash, and of the financial condition of the Section to the Executive Committee at times set by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall submit such reports as are required by the ACS Governing Documents. The books of accounts and all financial records shall be the property of the Section.

Section 5. Vacancies

  1. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Chair-Elect shall assume the duties of Chair for the remainder of the term. In such case, the Chair-Elect moving into the position of Chair shall also hold that position during the normal term as Chair as part of the leadership transition.
  2. All other vacancies, except for Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s), shall be filled by majority vote of the Executive Committee through interim appointment for the period up to the next annual election. At that time, the procedures for election as outlined in the bylaws of the Section shall be followed.
  3. An interim appointee to the vacated office of Chair-Elect shall not automatically succeed to the office of Chair. At the next election, both a Chair and a Chair-Elect shall be elected.

Section 6. Councilors, Alternate Councilors, and Temporary Substitute Councilor

  1. The Section shall have Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s) as provided in the ACS Governing Documents. The Section’s Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s) shall carry out those duties assigned to them by the ACS Governing Documents. In particular, the Councilor(s) (or Alternate Councilor(s) or Temporary Substitute Councilor if so designated to serve in place of the Councilor for a particular meeting), shall attend meetings of the Council of the SOCIETY and represent the Section at such meetings.
  2. Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s) shall be elected by ballot from among the MEMBERS for three-year terms beginning January 1 following election. Reelection is permissible. Councilor(s) shall be elected in separate years, whenever possible, to provide for a rotation of terms in accordance with the ACS Governing Documents. A partial term of one or two years shall be used whenever necessary to establish or to restore rotation of three-year terms provided that the Councilor and/or Alternate Councilor candidate(s) agree to the partial term before the election.
  3. In the event a Councilor is unable to attend a specified meeting of the Council of the SOCIETY, the Chair of the Section shall appoint one of the Alternate Councilor(s) to serve as Councilor at the specified meeting. Such appointment of an Alternate Councilor shall be for only one meeting.
  4. If every Councilor and Alternate Councilor of the Section will be absent from a Council meeting, thus leaving the Section without representation at such meeting, the Executive Committee may designate one MEMBER of the Section as a Temporary Substitute Councilor in accordance with the ACS Governing Documents.
  5. The Executive Committee shall designate one or more Councilor(s) to be disqualified under provisions of the ACS Governing Documents for reallocation of Councilor(s) among the Sections.
  6. Any vacancy in the position of Councilor or Alternate Councilor shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term at the time until the next annual election. The vacancy may be filled by a special election; by appointment by the Executive Committee until the next annual election; or as described elsewhere in the ACS Governing Documents and these bylaws.

BYLAW VI

Manner of Election

Section 1. The election of officers shall be conducted either by a ballot distributed to the members of the Section in accordance with the ACS Governing Documents and these bylaws, or at a regular meeting of the Section provided there is a quorum present as described elsewhere in these bylaws. Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s) shall be elected by a ballot distributed to all members of the Section; affiliates may not vote for Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s).

Section 2. Nominations

  1. Prior to September 1, the Secretary of the Section shall notify the Executive Committee and the Nomination Committee, as described elsewhere in these bylaws, of the elective positions to be filled. The Executive Committee may decide that for Councilor(s), the candidate(s) who receive a majority of votes shall be declared as Councilor(s), the candidate(s) who receive the next largest number of votes shall be declared alternate Councilor(s).
  2. In September of each year, the Nomination Committee shall report to the membership its nominations for each office to be filled and for Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s).
  3. Prior to October 15, any member of the Section may, in writing or from the floor at a meeting to conduct governance business, nominate additional candidates for office, provided that the candidates are MEMBERS of the Section, as required elsewhere in these bylaws. To go forward, the nomination must be seconded by a member of the Section. Nominations so made shall be equally valid as those from the Nomination Committee. All candidates nominated shall have indicated willingness to serve if elected.

Section 3. When a ballot is used, the candidates for each office and for Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s) shall be listed in alphabetical order on a ballot to be distributed to eligible voters of the Section by November 1. Affiliates may not vote for Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s). The ballot shall provide for a write-in candidate for each position to be filled. A paper ballot shall be provided to any eligible voter who requests it.

Section 4. The ballots shall be tabulated and validated not later than November 30. The candidate for each position receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie vote for any position, the Executive Committee, by ballot, shall elect from among the candidates who share the tie vote; the candidate receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected.

Section 5. The results shall be announced by the Section Chair or the Chair’s designee as soon as possible after the election and be published in the Section’s newsletter and/or on the Section’s website soon thereafter. The results shall be certified to the Chief Executive Officer of the SOCIETY not later than December 1.

Section 6. In accordance with the ACS Governing Documents, balloting procedures should ensure fair balloting that is open to all eligible members, protection against fraudulent balloting, and timely reporting and archiving of balloting results.

BYLAW VII

Recall of Elected Officials

Section 1. The officers and elected Executive Committee members, but not the Councilor(s) and Alternate Councilor(s)are subject to recall by the Sectionfor neglect of duties or conduct injurious to the SOCIETY.

Section 2. The recall of an official shall be initiated when a signed petition, indicating in writing the specific charges and reasonable substantiating evidence, is submitted to the Chair from at least five members of the Section. In the event the Chair is the official in question, the Chair-Elect shall receive the petition and shall assume the duties of Chair with respect to this issue until the issue is resolved.

Section 3. The Chair shall, without delay, determine that the petitioners are aware of the gravity of their actions and the procedures to be followed. The Chair shall seek an alternate resolution to the problem and a withdrawal of the petition at this time. In the absence of a resolution to the problem, the Chair shall notify the members of the Executive Committee and call a special meeting within thirty days.

  1. The Executive Committee shall promptly continue the recall process or dismiss the petition as ill-founded or find an alternative resolution to the problem. The Chair shall promptly inform the petitioners and the official of the decision of the Executive Committee. If no contact with the official can be made after a reasonable effort, the Executive Committee may remove the official in question with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the remaining members.
  2. If the proceedings continue:
    • The Chair shall assign the duties of the official to another qualified MEMBER of the Section, as required elsewhere in these bylaws, until the issue is resolved.
    • The official shall be offered an opportunity to answer the allegations in the petition before the Executive Committee. A certified letter shall be sent to the last known address on the official SOCIETY membership roll. Upon notification, the official shall have thirty days to make a written response to the allegations.
    • The Executive Committee shall decide whether or not to proceed after studying the official’s response. The Chair shall inform the official and the petitioners of the decision of the Executive Committee. If the Executive Committee decides that the proceedings shall continue, the official shall choose one of the following options:
      • The official may resign.
      • The official may request a recall vote. Section members shall be informed, through brief written statements prepared by the Executive Committee and the official, of the issues involved with the recall vote. Both statements shall be distributed to the members with the ballot. A paper ballot will be mailed to any member who requests it. At least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast shall be required for the official to be removed from office. The membership shall be informed of the results of the recall vote.
      • The official may request a hearing and a recall vote by the remaining members of the Executive Committee. At least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall be required to recall the official.
      • The official may choose not to respond and thus forfeit the position.

Section 4. The vacancy provisions of these bylaws shall be used to fill a vacancy caused by a recall process. The Chief Executive Officer of the SOCIETY shall be informed of the recall and filling of the vacancy.

BYLAW VIII

Committees

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall establish committees as necessary for the proper operation of the Section. Any individual serving on a committee shall be a member or affiliate of the Section as provided elsewhere in these bylaws. Members of the Executive Committee may also be members on the standing committees.

Section 2. The Section shall have the following standing committees: Auditing; Awards; Membership; Nomination; Program; and Scientific Education and Employment of the Disadvantaged (SEED).

  1. The Auditing Committee shall examine the books, vouchers, and reports of the Treasurer annually and present its report at the next regular Executive Committee meeting. The Auditing Committee shall consist of two or more MEMBERS of the Section who have no authority to disperse funds.
  2. The Awards Committee shall obtain information on awards of a professional or educational nature related to chemistry, assist in the identification of candidates within the Section who may qualify and assist in the application for such awards. The Awards Committee shall consist of at least three MEMBERS from the Section.
  3. The Membership Committee shall endeavor to increase meeting attendance and the SOCIETY’s membership within the Section’s territory. The Membership Committee shall consist of at least two MEMBERS from the Section.
  4. The Nomination Committee identifies candidates for elective office within the Section. The committee shall consist of at least two MEMBERS from the Section who are not candidates on the upcoming ballot.
  5. The Program Committee shall be responsible for dinner reservations at meetings, serve as hosts, care for Section equipment, and, in general, be responsible for the care and comfort of the audience and speakers during meetings. The committee shall consist of at least two MEMBERS from the Section.
  6. The Scientific Education and Employment of the Disadvantaged (SEED) Committee shall consist of at least two members of the Section and shall establish a program of summer employment for outstanding sophomore, junior, and senior class scientists. The students must qualify academically and meet guidelines for family income as outlined by the SOCIETY. The number of students placed will depend on the amount of funding the committee can raise and the number of mentors available.

Section 3. An Archivist shall be appointed by the Chair. The Archivist shall be responsible for maintaining the historical records of the Section.

BYLAW IX

Meetings

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall designate the times and places of the Section’s meetings as it finds necessary or desirable for the proper functioning of the Section. The Section shall hold at least one meeting annually to conduct governance business; however, this requirement may be modified by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall set the order of business for meetings of the Section to conduct governance business. The order of business may be suspended by a majority vote of the members present.

Section 3. The Section may hold special meetings to conduct governance business upon the written request of a majority of the Executive Committee or upon the written request of 15 members of the Section. To be valid, such request shall be received by the Secretary of the Section at least ten days before the date requested for the meeting and shall state the exact nature of the business to be transacted. No other business shall transpire at such meetings.

Section 4. Meetings of the Executive Committee and meetings of the Section to conduct governance business, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may be held by means of electronic communications technology that permits those in attendance to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, and for voting members to vote as needed.

Section 5. The Executive Committee shall meet a minimum of four times annually upon due notice either atthe call of the Chair or upon request of a majority of its members. A quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Committee. In the absence of a quorum, called meetings of the Executive Committee shall adjourn to a specific date.

Section 6. Due notice of the Section’s meetings, not including committee meetings, shall be distributed to each member and affiliate of the Section. A quorum for the transaction of governance business at such a Section meeting shall consist of 15 members of the Section. No governance business shall be conducted in the absence of a quorum.

Section 7. The fee for registration at any special meeting shall be decided by the Executive Committee, but there shall be no fee for attendance at any sessions held by the Section for the transaction of governance business.

Section 8. 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 or in the SOCIETY’s documents.

BYLAW X

Finances

Section 1.

  1. Members of the Section may be assessed voluntary Local Section dues in an amount set by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the option to waive or discount dues for STUDENT MEMBERS and for emeritus members.
  2. Society Affiliates may be assessed annual dues in an amount set by the Executive Committee.
  3. The annual dues of Local Section Affiliates shall be determined by the Executive Committee in accordance with the ACS Governing Documents, and as mentioned elsewhere in these bylaws.

Section 2. The Section may raise or collect funds to be expended for Section purposes and may have the entire management and control of such funds insofar as such management and control shall not conflict with any provision of these bylaws or with the ACS Governing Documents.

Section 3. The Section may receive donations or bequests made to it and it may expend or invest the same on behalf of the Section. Such expenditures or investments shall be made by the Treasurer of the Section upon authorization by the Executive Committee.

Section 4. An annual review of the books of the Treasurer and of any other transactions regarding the Section’s funds shall be conducted by the Auditing Committee. The reviewers’ report of their findings shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by January 31. The Executive Committee at its discretion from time to time may appoint an outside auditor to the Auditing Committee.

BYLAW XI

Affiliation with Other Technical Organizations

Section 1. The Section may affiliate with other technical organizations operating within the territory of the Section provided that such affiliation does not contravene the ACS Governing Documents. Such affiliation must be approved by the Executive Committee of the Section and the SOCIETY Committee on Local Section Activities.

Section 2. The affiliation with the technical organization shall become effective upon authorization by the Executive Committee of the Section and the SOCIETY Committee on Local Section Activities, and upon confirmation by the SOCIETY Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, acting for the Council, that the specific requirements of the ACS Governing Documents are met.

Section 3. The Executive Committee may terminate the affiliation with any technical organization by notifying, in writing, the governing body of the technical organization. The technical organization may terminate the affiliation upon written notice to the Section’s Executive Committee. Affiliations shall terminate after five years unless reauthorized by the Executive Committee. The term of each subsequent reauthorization shall not exceed five years.

BYLAW XII

Awards

Section 1. An Awards Committee consisting of at least three Section MEMBERS shall be administrators of the following awards:

  1. The Akron Section Award is for an outstanding young researcher under the age of 45.
  2. The Gene Easter Award is for an Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher in the Section’s geographical area.
  3. The Crano Award is in memory of John C. Crano for an outstanding researcher in chemistry or one of the closely related sciences.
  4. The Outstanding Junior Chemistry Student Award is given to an outstanding junior chemistry student from each of the six colleges in the Section’s geographical area. The chemistry faculty of the respective college nominates a student.
  5. The Outstanding Chemistry Student Award is presented to an outstanding student majoring in chemistry or one of the closely related sciences, who is enrolled in one of the six colleges in the Section’s geographical area. Nominations shall come from the chemistry faculty of these colleges.
  6. The Anoop Krishen Grant, in memory of Anoop Krishen, is for an outstanding chemistry teacher or a teacher in one of the closely related sciences.

Section 2. The awards are presented to the recipients at a regular meeting of the Section.

Section 3. Any honoraria for these awards shall be established by the Executive Committee.

BYLAW XIII

Amendments

Section 1. A petition to amend the bylaws may be initiated by the Executive Committee or by a petition signed by at least 15 members of the Section. If the proposed amendment is approved by the Executive Committee, if practical, it shall be submitted to the SOCIETY Committee on Constitution and Bylaws for review.

Section 2. The Executive Committee will then incorporate all the required changes and either accept or reject any recommended changes that are suggested by the SOCIETY Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. The revised bylaws shall then be submitted to the Section members for adoption. This may be accomplished at a business meeting of the Section provided that a minimum of four weeks’ prior notice is given to the Section members.

Section 3. If a proposed amendment is not approved by the Executive Committee and if the petition is signed by at least 15 members of the Section, if practical, it shall be submitted to the SOCIETY’s Committee on Constitution and Bylaws for review before being distributed to the members of the Section.

Section 4. At least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast shall be required to approve the amendment. This may be done at a Section meeting to conduct governance business provided a quorum is present. Alternatively, or failing the presence of a quorum, the vote may be taken by a ballot distributed to all members of the Section. At least two-thirds (2/3) of the valid ballots returned must be affirmative for adoption.

Section 5. The Secretary of the Section shall distribute the outcome of the vote regarding the amendment(s) to the Section members and within thirty days shall meet all requirements for submitting the results to the SOCIETY Committee on Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 6. Amendments to these bylaws, after adoption by the Section, 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.

BYLAW XIV

Dissolution of the Section

Upon the dissolution of the Section, any assets of the Section remaining thereafter shall be conveyed to such organization then existent, within or without the territory of the Local Section, that is dedicated to the perpetuation of Purposes similar to those of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, or to the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, so long as whichever organization is selected by the governing body of the Local Section at the time of dissolution shall be exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended or under such successor provision of the Code as may be in effect at the time of the Section’s dissolution.

*Effective TBD by C&B. Approved, as amended, by the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, acting for the Council of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. (C&B: bylaws@acs.org; www.acs.org/govdocs).