Constitution
Powers and Duties of the Office Bearers
President
The President shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the affairs of the Society. He/she shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Council and General Body. He/she shall direct the affairs of the Society in the best interests of the Society and shall perform such other duties as are necessary and incidental to this office.
Vice President (Academic)
The Vice President (Academic) will represent the interest and role of academic community in the society.
Vice President (Research Laboratory)
The Vice-President (Research Laboratory) will represent the interest and role of research laboratories in society.
Vice President
The Vice President will represent the interest and role of private companies in the society. When nominated by the president, any of the above three Vice Presidents shall act for the President in his/her absence exercise all his/her powers, and perform all such duties as are normally carried out by the President. The Vice Presidents shall chair technical and other meetings or perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or Executive Council from time to time.
Secretary
The Secretary along with the Joint Secretary will be responsible for carrying on the administration of the Society. He/she will keep minutes of the Council Meetings and General Body Meetings and issue notices of such meetings as directed in the Bye-Laws. He/she will supervise and control the society's staff, attend to correspondence, and comply with the formalities of the Societies Registration Act and other Governmental rules and regulations guiding the operation of the Society. In such duties, he/she will be assisted by the Joint Secretary and office manager(s) who may be nominated by the Executive Council.
Joint Secretary
The Joint Secretary along with the Secretary will be responsible for carrying on the administration of the Society. The Joint Secretary shall act for the Secretary in his/her absence, exercise all his/her powers, and perform all such duties as are normally carried out by the Secretary. The Joint Secretary shall perform any 9 other administrative duties as may be assigned by the President or Executive Council from time to time.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the Society and shall be responsible for the maintenance of proper books and accounts of finances received and expended. He/she would also make careful investment of the surplus money not immediately required under the instruction of the Executive Council.
Activities of Office Bearers
Finances
The Secretary and Treasurer shall keep proper books of accounts and submit them once a year to the auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Treasurer of the society would arrange to collect the subscription and other dues from its members.
The amounts collected would be deposited in a Bank to be decided by the Executive Council and operated on by two or more members of the Executive Council as may be decided at the first meeting of the Executive Council.
The Treasurer would also, under the instructions of the Executive Council, make a careful investment of surplus funds not immediately required, so that the interest accrued thereon can be usefully utilized for the objectives of the society.
Indemnity
Every Office Bearer and member of the Executive Council shall be indemnified against all losses and expenses incurred in the discharge of his/her/their duties except as may happen through his/her own willful neglect or dishonesty.
The Council shall have the power to frame guidelines from time to time for the proper execution of the Bye-Laws. As to the interpretation of these by-laws, the decision of the Council shall be final.
Except where specifically provided in these by-laws, the decision of the Council shall be final in all matters.
Removal of members of the council
In the event of there being any complaints against any member of the Executive Council, the Executive Council shall first form a sub-committee of three members of the Executive Council to examine thoroughly the charges levied.
The sub-committee will not include the member who made the complaint as well as the member against whom the complaint has been made.
If there is any substance in the charges, a report shall be prepared which would be considered by the Executive Council at a special meeting of the Council to be convened for this purpose, a notice of 10 days having been given for this meeting. The Quorum at this special council meeting would be 1/3rd and an opportunity would be given to the concerned council member to present his/her side of the case. If after the hearing, the charges are found to have substance, 10 then such council member shall be removed from his/her post but not from the membership of the Society.
Consideration of expulsion as a member of the Society would be as per Rule 29 of Section –III
Expulsion of members
The Executive Council shall have the power to suspend or remove from the list of members, a member of any class for willful contravention of the by-laws or for any reason which the Council considers contrary to the Interest of the Society. Such decision for suspension or expulsion except as provided in Rule 28 of Section III has to be taken at a Special meeting of the Executive Council to be convened for this purpose giving notice of 10 days. A quorum of this/her Special meeting will be 1/3rd. The decision shall be by a 2/3rd majority of the Executive Council members present.
At such a meeting, the Council shall give the member concerned an opportunity to attend personally and represent his/her case. The decision of the Council will be binding on the member subject only to arbitration as provided in these rules.
Executive Council
The business of the Society shall be managed and conducted by an Executive Council which shall consist of the President, Vice President, Vice President (Academic), Vice President (Research lab), Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer, other elected, ex-officio, co-opted, and nominated members as provided in these by-laws.
Elected Members
The total number of elected members of the Executive Council will be seven (7). The total number of members of the Executive Council can be increased with the approval of its majority members.
All elected members of the Council shall hold office for a 2-year term. Elected members at the conclusion of their 2-year term shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.
Every year before the 15th of May, the Secretary shall notify every member of the Society of the vacancies on the Council.
The nomination of candidates duly proposed and seconded by at least 2 members on the nomination form provided for the purpose by the Secretary shall be returned to him before the last date specified which shall be on or before 30th June.
The nomination form can either be duly filled and sent by post or can be sent through email.
An independent "Election Officer", who is not a member of the Society shall be appointed by the Executive Council who will be responsible for conducting the election and declaring the results. Upon the election process being set in motion, the interpretation of the rules and regulations, and by‐laws of the Association, with regard to the conduct of the elections shall be the sole responsibility of the "Election Officer" and binding on all other members concerned.
The Society can also conduct electronic voting which may include sending the ballot forms signed and sent through email.
The Executive Council and its members shall cease to exert any influence on the process of elections, till the declaration of the results by the "Election Officer". All issues related to the electoral process shall be represented only in writing to the „Election Officer‟, who shall look into the representation raised and initiate appropriate action if warranted. The "Election Officer‟ shall abide by the by‐laws, rules and regulations in vogue at the time of elections, and ensure a smooth, fair, and transparent election taking into confidence all concerned.
The Election can be conducted at any place as decided by the Council. In case a member is unable to be present during the election date, he/she can cast his/her through post.
The candidate offering for election should have been a Member, Life Member of the Society having membership in one or in combination of these categories on the last date specified for receipt of the nomination. Members are also eligible to nominate themselves for election as candidates.
Partner/Proprietor/Director/ Chief Executive Officer / Company representative of Company member/Institutional member, if elected and later ceases to be in the employment of the organization during his/her tenure in the Council shall cease to be an Executive Council member from the date he or she ceases to be in the organization.
Ex-officio members
All Past Presidents who hold membership in ISAM will be Ex-Officio members of the Executive Council.
Meetings of the Executive Council
The Executive Council shall meet at least once a year at a time and place to be determined by the Council. A minimum of 15 days notice is required for the Executive Council meetings but the Secretary will ensure that sufficient advance information is given to the members to enable them to make necessary travel arrangements.
The Executive Council shall also arrange meetings and conduct business through electronic mode including but not limited to video conferencing.
Quorum, Procedure, and Voting at EC Meetings
Half the members (including elected, nominated, ex-officio, and co-opted members) of the Executive Council would constitute a quorum at the meeting of the Council.
The Executive Council shall have the power to regulate its own procedure.
In all meetings of the Council, the decisions shall be by majority vote unless otherwise specified in the by-laws, each member being entitled to one vote. In case of a tie, the presiding officer of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
Resolution by Circulation
A resolution in writing signed by a majority of members shall be as valid and effectual as if it has been passed at a meeting of the Council duly called and constituted, notwithstanding that such resolution may be signed at different places or times. Such resolutions would be subject to ratification at the next regular meeting of the Council.
Election of Office Bearers
The Office Bearers of the Society shall be the President, the Vice President (Academic), the Vice President (Research Laboratory), the Vice President (company), the Secretary, the Joint Secretary, and the Treasurer.
The Office Bearers of the Society are to be elected once in two years in the Executive Council meeting immediately prior to the Annual General Meeting.
The Executive Council members comprising elected members, ex-officio members, and existing co-opted members along with the newly elected members, newly nominated members from the chapters, and the newly elected ex-officio Members will participate in the meetings.
The Office Bearers would hold office for a period of two years but would be eligible for re-election.
Commencement of Office
Past Presidents (ex-officio members) shall assume office at the Annual General Meeting. The office bearers shall assume office at the Annual General Meeting.
Appointment of Staff
The Executive Council shall have the power to appoint staff at its discretion for a period to be determined by the Council. The Executive Council shall have the power to appoint such full-time or part-time staff as may be considered necessary. Such terms and conditions may decided from time to time by the Council.
Casual Vacancy
The Council shall have the power to appoint a member to fill up a casual vacancy that may occur in the Council or among the office bearers of the Society but any person so appointed shall hold office only until the next Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election.
Meetings
Annual General Meeting: Every year an Annual General Meeting shall be held at such a time and place as shall be decided by the Council but preferably during April-September. 21 days notice for such meeting shall be given to the members by the Secretary.
1/3rd members shall be required to form a quorum at any Annual General Meeting. If at any Annual General Meeting a quorum is not present at the time prescribed, the meeting would be held at the same venue half an hour after the original time and the members present at that time would constitute the quorum for the adjourned Annual General Meeting. At such adjourned Annual General Meeting, no items outside the original agenda will be decided upon.
At each Annual General Meeting, the Council shall present a report of the past year‟s work, together with a statement of accounts and balance sheet, one copy of which shall be furnished to each member.
Special General Meeting: The Council may convene a General Meeting for any special purpose whenever they deem necessary by giving 21 days notice thereof. At such General Meeting, 1/3rd members would constitute quorum. If the requisite quorum is not present at the time prescribed, the meeting will be held at the same venue half an hour after the original time and the members present at that time would constitute the quorum for the adjourned Special General Meeting. At such adjourned Special General Meeting, no item outside the original agenda will be decided upon.
An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting can be called for by requisition of 10 members of the Society. Such requisition is to be submitted to the Executive Council in writing dealing the subject which is to be discussed at such Extra-Ordinary General Meeting. This request would be considered by the Executive Council who in absence of a satisfactory solution to the subject proposed would convene an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting giving 21 days notice. 1/3rd members would constitute a quorum at such requisitioned Extra-Ordinary General Meeting
Subscription, Admission, and Fees
Company Members, Institutional Members, Members, Student Members, Affiliates and Life Members shall pay annual subscription, admission fee, or lump sum fee as may be determined by the Executive Council from time to time subject to ratification of the same at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting of the Society.
At the time of adoption of these Bye-laws, the Executive Council shall determine the entrance fee, subscription fee, etc. payable for different classes of membership and these would become effective from a date to be determined by the Executive Council and approved by the General Body. Thereafter, the Executive Council may at its discretion revise the subscription, admission fees, etc. by deliberations at one of the Executive Council Meetings for which due notice has been given and a quorum present. The recommendations of the Executive Council in this regard would have to be approved by the next General Meeting. The voting for this purpose would be by show of hands and subject to a simple majority of the members present and voting.
The financial year of the Society would be from 1st April to 31st March of the following year. Subscription shall be payable annually in advance and shall become due on 1st of January every year. These subscriptions shall be payable to the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Society. In case a member is admitted during the middle of the year, he/she will have to pay the subscription for the relevant year.
Any member who has not paid his/her subscription by 31st of March following the date on which it becomes due shall lose all rights and privileges of the Society until such time that he/she has cleared his/her arrears. The Secretary or the Treasurer shall send the defaulting member a reminder calling for payment of the subscription due. If the amount is not received within 15 days of dispatch of this letter, the member is liable to have his/her name removed from the membership of the Society.
Any member removed from membership on account of default in subscription shall have the right to appeal to the Executive Council within three months of such removal. If the Executive Council considers his/her case favorably, then he/she would be readmitted after payment of all arrears due to the Society. In this case, a second entrance fee would not be required. Any application for reconsideration in this regard accompanied by a demand draft for the arrears, if not received within 3 months of cessation of membership would have to be treated as a new application and the member would be called upon to pay an entrance fee also