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Bylaws of the Society for Molecular Imaging
(Updated September 2005)

ARTICLE I (MEMBERSHIP)

  1. There shall be two categories of General Membership: Voting and Non-Voting. A Voting Member is one who has paid the dues for the current calendar year. To become a General Member of the Society, persons eligible under Article III of the Constitution must be sponsored by one Voting Member and approved by Council, or its designees.
  2. Only Voting Members of the Society have the right to vote in elections and at business meetings, to petition, to sponsor new members and to hold office in the Society.
  3. Council may establish Emeritus, Honorary, Student, Corporate, and other non-voting classes of members.

ARTICLE II (MEETINGS)

The Society shall hold International Congresses at intervals decided by Council. A General Business Meeting shall be held at each International Congress and marks the end of one term and the beginning of the next term of office. The General Business Meeting follows procedures such as are described in "Robert's Rules of Order." A quorum is 10% of the Society Membership or 50 General Members, whichever is smaller. The Society also sponsors symposia, workshops, seminars, tutorials or other such events..

ARTICLE III (DUES)

The fiscal affairs of the Society are based on the calendar year. Membership dues are recommended by Council and approved by voting members at a General Business Meeting. Dues are paid annually within a time determined by Council. Delinquent members are given reasonable warning before being dropped from Membership. Founding members have paid lifetime memberships and annual dues for these members is optional.

ARTICLE IV (PUBLICATIONS)

The Council is empowered on behalf of the Society to publish or to enter into agreements with others to publish on paper, electronically or in any other format, such journals and other publications (abstracts, reviews, newsletters, collected papers from a meeting, electronic media, etc.) as may be authorized by Council.

ARTICLE V (DUTIES OF OFFICERS)

The President chairs Council meetings; appoints and charges, with the approval of Council, the chairs and other members of committees of Council, except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws; and carries out other activities usually pertaining to the office. The President presides over the annual meeting of the Society and over the General Business Meeting. The President-Elect assists the President, is responsible for organizing the International Congress and succeeds to the Presidency the moment that office becomes vacant. When succession is premature due to the absence or disablement of the President, Council shall decide whether or not to hold a special election to select a new President-Elect. The President and President-Elect shall be non-voting members of all committees. The Secretary carries out all duties usually pertaining to the office. The Treasurer carries out all duties usually pertaining to the office, and chairs the Finance Committee.

ARTICLE VI (DUTIES OF COUNCIL)

  1. Council shall act as the Board of Trustees for the Society. As such, Council shall establish the policies of the Society according to the Constitution and shall implement these policies according to these Bylaws.
  2. Council shall approve all official activities of the Society, especially Scientific and Educational events.
  3. All budgets for expenditure of Society funds must be approved by Council.
  4. Should the Presidency become vacant and there is no President-Elect, Council shall elect one of its members as Acting President. Council shall decide whether or not to hold a special election to replace an Acting President. Should the position of President-Elect become vacant, Council shall hold a special election to fill this position. Should the office of Secretary or Treasurer become vacant, Council shall appoint an acting Secretary or Treasurer, who shall serve until the office can be filled by a regular election of the Society. Interim vacancies among the Councillors shall be filled by appointments recommended by the President and approved by Council. Councillors shall attend all Council meetings, Congresses and Business Meetings.
  5. Council may retain individuals and/or organizations to assist in handling the affairs of the Society and shall determine their duties and responsibilities.
  6. Council has the discretionary power to establish an Executive Committee of Members of Council to be selected by the President and approved by Council, and may delegate to this Committee such powers as it sees fit.
  7. Council shall meet at least once per year at the call of the President. When appropriate, Council business may be conducted by mail, electronic mail or telephone. Eight Members of Council constitutes a quorum.
  8. Council may formally recognize groups of members within the Society that have common interests in any aspect of Molecular Imaging™. A group of at least 25 voting members may request recognition by petition to Council. Council shall approve the goals, structure, rules and budget for each group, and shall review regularly the activities of the group. Council may elect one or more members of Council to act as advocate(s) for groups before the Council and to facilitate interaction between the Council and SMI committees. Council may designate a representative of a group to act as an advisor to Council.
  9. There shall be five Standing Committees of the Society, with duties and responsibilities as provided in Article VII of these Bylaws and by Council.
  10. Council may establish other committees to meet special needs of the Society.
  11. Council shall approve all committee appointments. Council shall ensure that committee membership represents as broad a cross section of the Society as is possible and practical.

ARTICLE VII (DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES)

  1. Nominating Committee
    The Nominating Committee consists of the Immediate Past President of the Society, who chairs the Committee, and three other General Members of the Society. All Committee Members are appointed by the President with concurrence of Council. Members of the Committee serve during the term of the President who appoints them. No more than one representative from any institution shall be appointed to this Committee. The Committee has the following duties:

    1. To provide Society Members with a list of open positions as they occur, an invitation to submit nominations and a deadline for response.
    2. After the deadline has passed, to compile a list of candidates containing at least two nominees for each position. All nominees by petition shall be entered on this list.
    3. To ascertain the willingness of each candidate to serve in the position under consideration.
    4. To supply the Society Office, at least 120 days prior to an election, with a list of candidates for each position, a statement from each candidate including the willingness to serve, a brief biography and a statement of how the candidate proposes to further the goals of the Society. Candidates shall represent as broadly as possible all aspects of Molecular Imaging™. Nominations by petition from the membership require the signatures of a number of General Members of the Society equal to 5% of the number of votes cast in the preceding election or 30, whichever is smaller.

  1. Membership Services Committee
    The Membership Services Committee consists of six Voting Members. Each President will appoint three members to this Committee, with the concurrence of Council, and appoints the Chair. The appointed members serve two terms each. The Membership Services Committee supports and furthers the educational activities of the Society. This Committee publicizes the goals and objectives of the Society and encourages appropriate non-members to join the Society.
  1. Finance Committee
    The Finance Committee consists of the Treasurer of the Society, who chairs the Committee, and four General Members of the Society. Each President appoints two members to this Committee with concurrence of Council. The appointed members serve two terms each. The Finance Committee receives proposed budgets for all committees and for all activities of the Society. The Committee prepares the yearly operating budget, which is then submitted to Council for approval. The Committee is responsible for monitoring the financial operations of the Society throughout the year and obtaining an annual audit/review audit.
  1. Scientific Advisory Committee
    The Scientific Advisory Committee acts as an advisory body for the annual meeting and organizes other meetings. The Scientific Advisory Committee convenes at the end of each annual meeting and advises on themes, chairs, content, etc. for the subsequent SMI meetings. The Chair and members of this Committee are appointed by the President with concurrence of Council and serve a single term.
  1. Scientific Communications Committee
    The Scientific Communications Committee consists of the Chair and four voting members of the Society. The Chair and the committee members are appointed by the President with concurrence of Council. The Chair serves for a single term; other committee members serve two terms each with two members taking office at the beginning of each term. The Editors of major publications of the Society serve as Advisors to this Committee. The Scientific Communications Committee provides advice to Council regarding publications of the Society.

ARTICLE VIII (ELECTIONS)

Officers and Councillors are elected by mail ballot. The ballot is provided by the Nominating Committee and mailed by the Society Office to the membership at least 90 days before the next Business Meeting. The candidate(s) for each office who receive(s) the largest number of votes is/are elected. When specified by Council, special elections shall take place and shall follow the same procedure.

ARTICLE IX (REMOVAL OF MEMBERS)

A two-thirds majority of the Council may institute proceedings to dismiss a member of the Society if the member is found guilty of conduct tending to injure the good name of the Society, disturb its well being, or hamper it in its work. Any Officer or Councillor may be removed from office for neglect of duty in office. Procedures for investigation and trial shall be as defined in Robert's Rules of Order or in a similar procedure defined by the Council.

ARTICLE X (AMENDMENTS)

Amendments to these Bylaws shall be made by the following procedures:

  1. Amendments may be initiated by the majority of the council or by a petition to the Council signed by 5% of the members of the Society.
  2. The proposed amendment(s) will be sent by electronic mail to all voting members for comment.
  3. After four (4) weeks the amendment(s) will be sent to the voting members with the voting members’ comments as summarized by the Society Secretary.
  4. An electronic vote will be required for each amendment within one week.
  5. An amendment will be ratified if approved by a two-thirds majority of a vote comprising a minimum of 5% of the voting members.