Constitution and By-Laws

Section 1. The name of this honorary metals and materials society shall be Alpha Sigma Mu, designated as ASM.

Object

Section 2. The object of this society shall be to recognize and promote high scholastic, scientific, and professional attainment in the study, experimental investigation, manufacture, treatment, design, selection, and use of metals and engineering materials.

Incorporation

Section 3. The society shall be incorporated, not for profit, under the general corporation laws of the state of Ohio.

Colors

     Section 4. The colors of the society shall be silver and gold.

Insignia

Section 5. 

            (a) The badge of the society shall be a rectangular gold or silver insignia on the face of which is engraved a picture of a c-curve             and the Greek letters Alpha, Sigma, and Mu, and on the reverse side of which is engraved the owner's name and year of                         election.

            (b) The official badge shall be worn only by members of the society.

Article II - Dissolution

Section 1. In the event of the dissolution of the society, the Board of Trustees shall transfer the net assets remaining, after payment of all debts and obligations, to one or more organizations, selected by the Board of Trustees, which are exempt from the payment of Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or of corresponding provisions of subsequent Internal Revenue Codes.

Article III - Membership

Classes

Section 1. There are three classes of membership: Regular, Honorary, and Distinguished Life Member.

Regular Members

Section 2. A Regular Member, at the time of his election, shall be either

            (a) an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student, possessing the qualities of integrity, leadership and initiative, at a                         recognized college or university, and in a curriculum which is approved by the Board of Trustees of the society,

            (b) one who has attained high stature in the field of metallurgical or materials engineering, either through outstanding scholarly                 activity, research, or service to the profession.

Honorary Members

Section 3. An Honorary Member shall have achieved exceptionally high standing in the metallurgical, metallurgical engineering, materials science, or materials engineering professions, either through academic, research, or industrial activity.

Distinguished Life Members

Section 4. Distinguished Life Members shall have achieved and maintained, throughout a long career, a distinguished international standing in the metallurgy, metallurgical engineering, materials science, or materials engineering professions, either through academic, research, or industrial activity.

Eligibility of Undergraduate Students for Election

Section 5. 

            (a) To be eligible for election as a Regular Member an undergraduate student shall be of Junior or Senior status, shall have                     completed at least nine semester credit hours, or the equivalent in his/her major area, and shall have attended the approved                 college or university for at least two full quarters or one semester.

            (b) He/she shall be in the cumulative upper one-third (1/3) scholastically of all students working toward a degree in the pertinent             curriculum or degree-granting unit.

            (c) He/she shall be recommended to the secretary of the local chapter or to the Board of Trustees of the society, if no local                     chapter exists, by a faculty member who is himself a member of the society.

Eligibility of Graduate Students for Election

Section 6. To be eligible for membership as a Regular Member, a graduate student shall be recommended to the secretary of the local chapter or to the Board of Trustees, if no local chapter exists, by a faculty member who is himself a member of the society. The graduate student must have completed at least nine semester hours or the equivalent at the graduate level and must meet the qualities listed in Section 2(a) of Article III.

Eligibility of Other Persons for Election as Regular Member

Section 7. To be eligible for election to Regular Member, a person should be well-known and respected nationally or regionally for his contributions to science or engineering in fields relating to metallurgy and/or materials. 

Regular members may be elected by chapters as outlined in Section 7(a) or by the National Board of Trustees as outlined in Section 7(b)

Section 8. 

            (a) A candidate may be eleced to the level of Regular Member by an active chapter if he meets the qualifications listed in                         Sections 4, 5, or 6. Elections requires 2/3 affirmative vote of the members present at a chapter meeting and should include                     unanimous vote of all faculty members present who are themselves members of the society.

            (b) Regular or Honorary Members are elected by a majority affirmative vote of the Board of Trustees, after their nomination by                 any member of the society. Honorary Members also may be nominated by active chapters, in which case additional weight is                 given the nomination over nominations made by individuals. This chapter requires the approval of the faculty advisor and a 3/4                 affirmative vote of all members present at the chapter meeting where the matter is taken up. Nomination to Honorary Membership             is usually limited to an individual who is already a Regular Member and who meets the qualifications outlined in Article III, Section             3 of this Constitution. Wherever possible the nomination of an Honorary Member should be transmitted to the National Secretary             of the society by the Chapter Secretary. All nominations should be accompanied by a detailed description of the nominee's                     qualifications.

           (c) Election to any membership becomes final when the elected person signs a registration card, to be provided by and filed with             the National Secretary, and when he/she discharged any other obligations required for his/her membership.

           (d) A distinguished Life Member may be nominated by the unanimous action of a chapter with supporting documentation                        submitted to the Board of Trustees through the Secretary one month prior to the Annual Board of Trustees Meeting, or by a                    member of the Board of Trustees at an Annual Meeting. Election of a Distinguished Life Member shall be by the unanimous action            of the members fo the Board of Trustees in attendance at an Annual Meeting of the Board.

Expulsion of Members

Section 9. 

            (a) Any member shall be subject to expulsion if his/her behavior is not in keeping with the principles and ideals upon which the                 society is based. 

            (b) Expulsion shall be only by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership of the Board of Trustees of the                 society after due notice and an opportunity to be heard

Article IV - Board of Trustees

Section 1. 

            (a) All affairs of the societyshall be managed and directed by a Board of Trustees consisting of nine (9) members, including                 president, president-elect, immediate past-president, secretary, treasurer and four (4) trustees.

            (b) Any five (5) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business.

Annual Meeting

Section 2. The Board of Trustees of the society shall hold an annual fall meeting. This annual meeting shall be open to all members and shall elect officers and consider and act on any and all business important to the society which shall be brought before it.

Specific Responsibilities

Section 3. 

            (a) The Board of Trustees shall act on all matters concerning the welfare of the society, its chapter, and its members.

            (b) It shall approve the eligibility of colleges and universities to have chapters of the society, shall approve curricula from which             members can be elected, and shall see that a list of these is kept, subject to periodic review.

            (c) It shall determine the acceptability of nominees for honorary membership and may elect those it deems qualified.

            (d) It may elect members-at-large to the society when no local chapter exists.

            (e) It shall approve and charter, or disapprove, petitions for new chapters in eligible colleges and universities.

            (f) It shall review the annual reports of its elected or appointed officers and committees and take appropriate action.

            (g) It shall determine all financial affairs of the society including the amounts of fees and dues to members and to chapters.

            (h) It shall approve all budgets and make all appropriations.

Action Without a Meeting

Section 4. Any action which might be authorized or taken at a meeting of the Board of Trustees may be authorized or taken without a meeting if it is in writing and is approved, by all members of the Board of Trustees who would be entitled to notice of a meeting for such purpose. Any such properly approved authorization or action shall be entered upon the records of the society.

Article V - Officers of the Society

Officers

Section 1. The officers of the society shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Past-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and four (4) Trustees.

President

Section 2. 

            (a) The President shall assume office after serving one year as President Elect.

            (b) He/she shall preside at the annual meeting and at all other meetings of the Board of Trustees, and shall perform such other                 duties as requested by the Board of Trustees.

            (c) He/she shall have the power to appoint, by and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, all committees deemed advisable,             including ad hoc committees and a nominating committee.

President-Elect

Section 3. 

            (a) The President-Elect shall be elected by majority vote of the members of the society at the annual meeting after having been                 duly nominated by the nominating committee or by written petition submitted from the floor and signed by more than twenty-five             (25) members not more than five of which shall be from any one chapter.

            (b) He/she shall perform the duties of the President in case of absence of the President or the inability of the President to act and             shall perform such other duties as requested by the Board of Trustees.

Past-President

Section 4. The immediate Past-President shall serve for one year after the expiration of his term as President, and shall perform such duties as requested by the Board of Trustees.

Secretary

Section 5. 

            (a) The Secretary shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the society at the annual meeting after having been duly             nominated by the nominating committee or by written petition submitted from the floor and signed by more than twenty-five (25)             members not more than five of which shall be from any one active chapter. He/she shall be elected for a term or two years and             shall be eligible for re-election on the completion of any given term.

            (b) He/she shall act as recording and corresponding secretary of the society and shall keep, or cause to be kept, full and                         complete records of the society.

            (c) He/she shall act as secretary at the annual meeting and at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and shall perform such other             duties as requested by the Board of Trustees.

Treasurer

Section 6. 

            (a) The Treasurer shall be elected by majority vote of the members of the society at the annual meeting after having been duly                 nominated by the nominating committee or by written petition submitted from the floor and signed by more than twenty-five (25)             members not more than five of which shall be from any one active chapter. He/she shall be elected for a term of two years and             shall be eligible for re-election to that office.

            (b) He/she shall be financial officer of the society, shall keep or cause to be kept, a complete record of all money received and                 dispersed by, or on behalf of, the society, and shall secure proper receipts for all monies dispersed.

           (c) He/she shall report the financial condition of the society to the annual meeting and to the Board of Trustees whenever                        requested, and shall perform such other duties requested by the Board of Trustees.

Trustees

Section 7. Two (2) trustees shall be elected by majority vote of the members of the society at the annual meeting after having been duly nominated by the nominating committee or by written petition submitted from the floor and signed by more than twenty-five (25) members not more than five of which shall be from any one active chapter. The term of office for a trustee shall be two (2) years and no trustee shall be eligible for re-election to that office.

Section 1. Each active chapter shall pay annual dues to the Treasurer of the society in amount fixed by the Board of Trustees. These dues shall be used to help defray normal operating expenses of the society.

Chapter Initiation Fee and Annual Dues for Regular Members

Section 2. Chapters may collect an initiation fee from each Regular Member they initiate. The initiation fee shall be set by the Board of Trustees to cover expenses. Active Regular Members also may be assessed annual dues not to exceed five (5) dollars. These funds shall be used to help defray normal operating expenses of the chapter including payment of annual chapter dues to the society.

National Initiation Fee for Regular Members

Section 3. Regular Members not initiated through a chapter shall pay an initiation fee established by the Board of Trustees. This fee shall be payable to the Treasurer of the society and shall be used to help defray normal operating expenses of the society.

Fee for Honorary Members

Section 4. No initiation fee nor dues payments shall be required of Honorary Members or Distinguished Life Members.

Article VII - Chapters

Eligible Colleges and Universities 

Section 1. 

            (a) A chapter of this society may be organized at any eligible college or university.

            (b) Any college or university which offers at least one curriculum leading to a degree in metallurgy, metallurgical engineering,                 materials science, materials engineering or other fields within the interests of the society and which is approved by the Board of             Trustees of the society is eligible to form a chapter, provided the total number of qualified students and faculty (Juniors plus                     Seniors plus Graduate Students plus Faculty) is ten or more.

Petition for Charter

Section 2. 

            (a) A petition to establish a chapter may be directed to the Board of Trustees of the societyby any faculty members of the                     eligible college or university who is a member of the society or by any group of eligible students with the endorsement of such                 faculty member. Such petitions must be accompanied by the approval, in writing, of an administrative officer of the college or                 university.

            (b) Such petitions may be approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total membership of the Board of Trustees of the society.                 After such approval, the Secretary shall issue a charter and assign a Greek letter designation to the chapter according to its                 state or country and its time of formation.

Chapter Officers

Section 3. 

            (a) The officers of each chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Each officer shall be                     elected for a one-year term and shall be eligible for re-election.

            (b) Any member of a chapter may hold office provided he/she is elected by majority vote of the members of the chapter present             at a meeting called for that purpose.

            (c) The chapter President shall be the executive officer of the chapter. He/she shall preside at all meetings, shall appoint such                 committees, including ad hoc committees, as may be necessary to operate the chapter and shall perform such other duties as                 the chapter may request.

            (d) The chapter Vice-President shall assist the President, shall preside at all functions of the chapter in his/her absence, and                 shall perform such other duties as the President of the chapter may request.

            (e) The chapter Secretary shall keep a full and permanent record of all meetings and proceedings of the chapter and shall have             custody of all records, reports or other important chapter documents. All chapter records shall be open to the inspection of the             chapter members and of properly accredited officials of the society. The chapter Secretary shall conduct all official                                 correspondence promptly, and shall perform such other duties as the President of the chapter may request. He/she will also                 send an annual report of the chapter's activities to the national Secretary at the end of his/her annual term.

            (f) The chapter Treasurer shall collect promptly all assessments levied by the chapter and shall keep an accurate account of all             income and expenditures, using a uniform accounting system. He/she shall make a report to the chapter at the close of his/her                 term of office. The accounts of the chapter shall at all times be open to the inspection of the chapter members and of properly                 accredited officials of the society.

Chapter Faculty Advisor

Section 4. 

            (a) Each chapter shall have a faculty advisor who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the society from the faculty                 members of the institution who are members of the society.

            (b) The faculty advisor shall remain in office until resignation or removal for cause by the Board of Trustees of the society.

Chapter Meetings

Section 5. 

            (a) Meetings of the chapter may be called by the chapter president when occasion demands.

            (b) An annual meeting of each chapter, for the election of officers and the consideration of any other business to be brought                 before it, shall be held each year in the month of April or May.

Selection of Candidates for Membership

Section 6. A membership committee, composed of a chairman, two (2) other members and the faculty advisor, shall be appointed by the Chapter President to nominate qualified candidates for submission to the chapter membership for election to membership in the society.

Induction by a Chapter

Section 1. The initiation of new members into the society by a chapter shall be conducted in a dignified manner and in accordance with a prescribed ritual, a copy of which shall be given to each new member after initiation.

Induction Where There Is No Chapter

Section 2. The initiation of new members into the society in a region in which there is no local chapter shall be optional in form and shall be conducted in a dignified and impressive manner by representatives of the society, at the request of the Board of Trustees of the society.

Certificate of Membership

Section 3. Each new member shall be given a certificate of membership in the society and shall have the right to own and wear the badge of the society.

Article IX - Amendments

Procedure to Amend

Section 1. This constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership of the Board of Trustees of the society, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees duly called and held, provided notice of such meetings has stated that amendments to the Constitution are to be discussed at the meeting or by unanimous affirmative vote of all members of the Board of Trustees at a meeting duly called and held, a quorum being present.

Proposing Amendments

Section 2. Any member or chapter may propose amendments for action by the Board of Trustees by presenting them to the Secretary of the society in writing at least ninety (90) days in advance of the annual meeting.

Article X - By-Laws

Section 1. By-Laws of any nature consistent with the provisions of this Constitution may be drawn up and adopted by the Board of Trustees for its own use, by the members of a chapter for the operation of that chapter, or by the Board of Trustees for the members of a chapter but subject to their approval.

Article XI - Effective Date

Section 1. This Constitution was established at the Annual Meeting of the society on Monday, October 16, 1967, and shall supercede in all respects any existing Constitution, By-Laws or Rules of Alpha Sigma Mu.