Membership & By-Laws

ARTICLE 1- NAME –

The name of this organization shall be the North Carolina Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, hereinafter referred to as NC-ASM.

ARTICLE 2- OBJECT –

The object of NC-ASM shall be to further the advancement of the science of Microbiology and Immunology in all of its phases, and to aid the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in extending its work.

ARTICLE 3- MEMBERSHIP -

1. Active Members.  All persons interested in bacteriology, or professionally engaged as microbiologists, or occupied in any field of microbiology and immunology or its practical applications, and who, in the judgment of the Committee on Membership, are of good professional standing and moral repute, shall be eligible to active membership in NC-ASM upon approval of their application by the said committee, and upon payment of the prescribed dues.

2. Classes of membership other than Active Members may be created in the Bylaws by the means specified in Article 13 - Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws.

3. Members shall be dropped from the roster of NC-ASM whenever they shall have failed to pay their dues for the calendar year, or for unprofessional conduct, or for any reason deemed sufficient by the Committee on Membership.

ARTICLE 4- VOTING RIGHTS -

All active members shall have an equal vote on all questions involving the policies and activities of NC ASM; however, only those active members who are also members of the American Society for Microbiology shall be eligible to vote on matters affecting that organization or to vote for Officers of NC ASM.

ARTICLE 5- DUES –

The annual dues for various classes of membership in NC-ASM shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Memberships will be initiated and renewed as of January 1 of each year.

ARTICLE 6- OFFICERS -

1. The elected OFFICERS of NC-ASM shall be: a President, a President-elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Councilor to the ASM, and an Alternate Councilor to the ASM, and any other officers as may from time to time be created by vote of the membership under the provisions of Article 13 of this Constitution. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the eligible members present at the annual Business Meeting of the NC-ASM at which balloting takes place or by mail ballot. The term of office shall begin the first day of July following the meeting in which elections were held. The duties of the Officers shall be those herein defined, those specified by the membership as expressed by vote at an annual Business Meeting, and those defined and specified in the Bylaws, together with the functions usually assumed by such Officers. The term of office shall be one year except for Councilor and Alternate Councilor which shall be two years. No member shall serve as Councilor for more than two consecutive terms.

2. The BOARD OF DIRECTORS of NC-ASM shall consist of the Officers of NC-ASM and the immediate past President of NC-ASM.

ARTICLE 7- ELIGIBILITY TO OFFICE –

Only active members of NC-ASM who are also active members of the American Society for Microbiology shall be eligible to election as officers of NC-ASM, or shall be eligible to appointment to any office or committee that represents NC-ASM to the American Society for Microbiology.

ARTICLE 8- MEETINGS –

At least one meeting shall be held annually within North Carolina.

ARTICLE 9- STANDING COMMITTEES –

The standing committees of the NC-ASM shall be a Nominating Committee, a Meetings Committee, a Program Committee, and a Committee on Membership.

1. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President each year no later than 60 days prior to the annual meeting at which elections take place. The Nominating Committee shall present an official ticket for election of officers, and shall report to the President no later than 30 days prior to the meeting. Nominations from the floor may be made at the annual meeting or write in votes for other candidates may be made on mail ballots.

2. The Meetings Committee shall consist of the Board of Directors and any additional NC-ASM members appointed by the President. The Meetings Committee shall be charged with the selection of meeting sites and arranging for meeting facilities.

3. The Program Committee shall consist of the President-elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer and any additional members appointed by the President-elect. The Program Committee shall be charged with the arrangement of a program from the titles with abstract which are submitted to, or from titles which are invited by, the committee. The Program Committee shall arrange to provide the equipment, materials, refreshments and entertainment required for the program.

4. The Committee on Membership shall consist of the Board of Directors and any additional members appointed by the President, and shall be charged the carrying out of the provisions in Article 3 and Article 5 of this Constitution and any Bylaws pertaining to membership and dues.

ARTICLE 10- TAX EXEMPT STATUS -

1. NC-ASM shall operate exclusively as a scientific and educational organization and its purposes shall be consistent with those of the American Society for Microbiology. No part of the net income of NC-ASM shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, it’s elected officers or other private persons, except that reasonable compensation may be paid to employees for services rendered in furtherance of the organization tax exempt purposes.

2. NC-ASM shall engage only in those activities permitted by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

ARTICLE 11- DISPOSITION OF ASSETS –

Upon dissolution of NC-ASM, the assets of NC-ASM shall be distributed exclusively to charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organizations which would then qualify under the provisions of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations of the Department of Treasury applicable to such sections as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.

ARTICLE 12- CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY –

The Constitution and Bylaws of NC-ASM shall be subject to the approval of the Branch Organization Committee and the Council of the American Society for Microbiology. In addition, the Constitution and Bylaws of NC-ASM shall be consistent with those provisions in the Constitution and Bylaws governing the American Society for Microbiology which regulate the operation and organization of branch organizations.

ARTICLE 13- AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS -

1. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by any active member at any regular business meeting of NC-ASM or in writing to the Board of Directors. Proposed amendments will be discussed at the meeting at which they are proposed or if in writing at the next business meeting. The proposed amendments will then be placed on the business agenda of the succeeding meeting where they will be discussed and brought up for adoption. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws will be considered adopted if accepted by a two-thirds majority Vote of the active members present at the meeting in which they are considered for adoption.

2. Interpretation of the intent or language of the Constitution and Bylaws shall be decided by majority vote of the Executive Committee. In case of disagreement by 10 or more active members on any interpretations made by the Executive Committee, an ad hoc committee will be nominated by the Nominations Committee and elected by the membership at the next business meeting to study and resolve the disagreement.

Revised and duly adopted 4/1994.

1. MEMBERSHIP

1. Active Members - As defined in Article 3 of the Constitution. Active members are also known as Regular members.

2. Sustaining Members - A person or commercial organization may become a sustaining member if endorsed by the Committee on Membership and if annual dues are paid as stipulated in Bylaw.

3. Emeritus Members - Active members who retire from their professional positions but who desire to remain active in NC-ASM shall be nominated for Emeritus membership. Nomination and election shall be by submitting the name of the proposed Emeritus Member to the Secretary.

4. Student Members - Active Members currently enrolled in an institution of higher learning.

2. DUES

Dues schedules will be determined by the Board of Directors for all classes of membership. The Secretary is responsible for mailing dues notices. Dues may be paid to the Treasurer by mail or at any meeting.

3. TERMS OF OFFICE

1. The President may not hold consecutive terms in that office.

2. The President-elect may not hold consecutive terms in that office.

4. NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Thirty days prior to the NC-ASM Meeting, at which elections will take place, the NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall forward the official ticket to the President. The President shall include the ticket in the agenda for the Business Meeting, and shall direct the Secretary to distribute the ticket to the membership no later than five days prior to the Meeting. Alternatively, upon direction by the President, mail ballots may be distributed to members eligible to vote and forwarded by members to the Secretary to cast votes.

5. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

In addition to the duties specified in the Constitution, the President shall:

1. Preside at all Business, Executive Committees and Special meetings.

2. Appoint the Nomination Committee at least 60 days prior to meetings in which elections are to be held.

3. Appoint ad hoc committees as necessary.

4. Appoint an ad hoc committee for each meeting to judge the candidates for the MARY A. POSTON AWARD.

6. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

In addition to the duties specified in the Constitution, the resident-elect shall:

1. Appoint and chair the program committee.

2. Direct the Secretary to issue a call for papers and to select a deadline for submission.

3. Lead the Program Committee in arranging the program, and shall serve as liaison person from NC ASM to other Branches of ASM in the planning and executing of joint and regional meetings.

4. Assist the Meetings Committee in selecting the location and date for meetings.

5. Assist the Meetings Committee in selecting the meeting hail and in making all other necessary arrangements for the meeting.

6. Furnish the Secretary with program details at least 15 days prior to the meetings, and direct the Secretary to issue invitation to attend, program schedule, and other information relative to the meeting for distribution to the membership of NC-ASM and any other invited guests or members of Branches meeting jointly with NC-ASM.

7. Chair one session of the meeting and appoint Chairmen of other sessions as required.

7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

In addition to the duties specified in the Constitution, the Secretary shall:

1. Maintain all of the past and current written records of NC-ASM including roster of members and mailing address lists.

2. At the direction of other Officers, issue notices, calls for papers, programs, business meeting agenda, official ticket for elections, etc. to the membership and specified other persons.

3. Inform the parent organization, American Society for Microbiology, of the activities of NC-ASM by:

   1. reporting annually the number of active members.

   2. forwarding the names, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers of newly elected Officers (including the immediate past President) within 30 days following meetings at which elections were held, and any other information requested by the national ASM.

   3. forwarding the program of meetings including the announcements of awards and any other news items.

4. Maintain attendance records and membership lists relative to the meetings.

5. Maintain and report the minutes of all meetings.

6. Report to the membership at Business meetings, and to the other officers, whenever necessary, regarding communications to the NC-ASM from other organizations or individuals.

7. Prepare and send all correspondence and other forms of communications pursuant to the business of NC-ASM.

8. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

The Treasurer shall maintain and manage the financial affairs of the NC-ASM, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors on any non-routine matters, by:

1. Opening and maintaining appropriate bank accounts for the deposit and safekeeping of NC-ASM finds.

2. Disbursing funds for all normal operating expenses of NC-ASM.

3. Assists the Secretary in issuing dues notices and in maintaining a data base / address list of members in good standing.

4. Collecting and depositing dues and all other funds which accrue to NC-ASM.

5. Purchasing needed supplies and services for the routine operation of the business and activities of NC-ASM.

6. Making an oral report of the financial status of NC-ASM at each regular business meeting and each Executive Committee meeting.

7. Making and distributing to the Active Members a formal, written report of all income, disbursements and financial balance for each fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).

9. PROCEDURE FOR DROPPING AND REINSTATING MEMBERSHIP

Pursuant to ARTICLE 3 (C) of the Constitution, any member failing to pay dues for a given calendar year shall be removed from the roster of Active Members at the end of the year for which clues were not paid. Said member will receive notice of dues for the next calendar year. No further mailings will be made and the name will be removed both from the roster of Active Members and the mailing list if no response is forthcoming within 30 days or at the next NC-ASM meeting. Such former members may be reinstated by paying the dues for the last year that they were in arrears plus the dues for the current year. Members who have resigned their membership in good standing shall be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year in which they seek reinstatement.

10. The Board of Directors shall meet annually.

11. The Secretary or the Treasurer shall be nominated for the office of President-elect for the term following the term in which he/she retires from that office.

12. No member may hold, or be appointed to, or be elected to more than one Office of NC-ASM during any one term of office.