VA-SRA Bylaws

VIRGINIA SOCIETY OF RESEARCH ADMINISTRATORS INTERNATIONAL

(VA-SRA)

BYLAWS OF THE VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF SOUTHERN SECTION
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ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The qualifications for membership in the Virginia Chapter of the Southern Section of the Society of Research Administrator shall be the same as those contained in Article III, Section 3.1 of the International Bylaws.*

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the Virginia Chapter shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.  Such officers are required to be members of the International Society of Research Administrators.

Section 2.  Duties of officers shall be described on the chapter website: www.va-sra.org.

ARTICLE III: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The Nominating Committee, selected as prescribed in the Chapter Bylaws, shall nominate at least one member for the offices of President-Elect and Secretary, and Treasurer, and shall verify each candidate's capability and willingness to serve.

Section 2. Nominations shall be reported to the membership in writing via the listserv at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the first Chapter Meeting in the calendar year. The same report shall advise the members of their right to submit further nominations subject to these conditions:

A. That the nominations shall be received electronically, by the chair of the nominating committee, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the annual section meeting.

B. That the nominating petition shall be endorsed via electronic messages to the nominations chair by at least three (3) members of the Chapter.

C. That the nominees have indicated electronically that they will accept the offices if elected.

Section 3. If the Nominations Committee candidates are unopposed, election by the membership will occur during the business meeting at the first meeting of the calendar year.  In the event that write-in nominations are received, the Nominating Committee shall cause ballots to be printed and distributed at the first meeting of the calendar year.

Section 4.  In the event that ballots are used, the Nominating Committee shall be responsible for validating, opening, and counting the ballots.

Section 5. The duly elected officers shall assume their term of office at the close of the Chapter Meeting and continue to serve one year until the close of the next Chapter Meeting the following calendar year. The previously elected President-Elect will normally assume the office of President at the close of the Chapter Meeting after serving a year in the office of President-Elect.

Section 6. Duties of the officers are those commonly associated with the offices concerned, except in addition the President-Elect shall be responsible for coordinating with the Meeting Committee, all program content for Chapter Meetings during the tenure of office as President-Elect.

Section 7. In the event that the duly elected President cannot serve in this capacity, the President-Elect shall automatically assume the office of President and shall serve in that capacity for the remainder of the unexpired term plus the full term for which he/she was duly elected. The special election will be conducted by the Nominating Committee and shall be completed within ninety (90) days of the President's call, according to the procedures described in the Procedures Manual.

Section 8. Should a vacancy arise in the duly elected office(s) of President-Elect, Secretary, or Treasurer, the president shall ask the nominating committee to select a qualified individual to serve until a formal election can be held at the next convened meeting

ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES

Section 1. Nominating Committee. This Committee shall consist of a Chair (generally the immediate past president) and two other members. The Chair shall be appointed by the President for his/her term of office. The Chair shall then select the two other members.

Section 2. Bylaws Committee. This Committee shall consist of a Chair and two other members. The Chair shall be appointed by the President for his/her term of office. The Chair shall then select the two other members.

Section 3. Meetings Committee. The Chair of the Meetings Committee will be the President-Elect. The Chair will select as many other members as is deemed necessary. This committee is responsible for developing the program content associated with any chapter meeting, site selection for the meeting and for ensuring that the meeting provides quality and networking experiences that meet the needs of Chapter members.

ARTICLE V: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Section 1. All financial matters of the Chapter shall be handled by the Treasurer of the Chapter. The Treasurer shall report at the Chapter Business Meetings as required. Prior to the payment of funds, the Treasurer will obtain the concurrence of the President in writing approving the expenditure of such funds.

Section 2. Should the Virginia Chapter of the Southern Section dissolve itself, all assets shall revert to the International Society as provided by the International Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds at any Virginia Chapter Business Meeting.  The bylaws committee should make periodic review and make periodic recommendations to the chapter at any Virginia Chapter business meeting.  In addition, an VA-SRA member may recommend an amendment to the Bylaws Committee at least two weeks before the Business Meeting and the recommendation of the Bylaws Committee is reported to the Chapter members at such meeting before a vote is taken.

Adopted at the first meeting of the Virginia Chapter of the Southern Section, Charlottesville, Virginia, November 17, 1994. revised June 6, 2002, revised June 9, 2004.

*From SRA International Bylaws concerning membership eligibility: "Membership is open to individuals, institutions and organizations that are active, or have an interest, in the profession of research administration at any level and within any sector of the research community. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, personal orientation, disability, age or national origin."