Bylaws of BuckCHI, the Central Ohio Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction of the Association for Computing Machinery

Table of Contents


Article I - Name and Scope

  1. This organization shall be called the Central Ohio Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction, also known as BuckCHI. In these bylaws it will be referred to as "the Chapter" and the Association for Computing Machinery will be referred to as "ACM".

  2. The scope of the Chapter is Computer-Human Interaction.

  3. The Chapter will support activities complimentary to ACM SIGCHI, the ACM, and other ACM activities in the central Ohio area.

  4. This chapter will serve persons within approximately 50 miles of Columbus, Ohio.

Article II - Purpose

The Chapter is organized and will be operated exclusively for educational and scientific purposes.

  1. Specific objectives are:

    A. To promote an increased knowledge of and greater interest in the science, design, development, and applications of modern computing in Computer-Human Interaction.

    B. To provide a means of communication between persons having an interest in computing.

  2. The activities of this Chapter will include the following:

    A. Collecting and disseminating information through a newsletter, announcements and other publications.

    B. Sponsoring meetings, conferences, symposia, discussion groups and workshops.

    C. Organizing sessions at ACM conferences.

    D. Serving as a source of information for its members, other ACM units, and the general public.

    E. Working with other ACM units on activities such as lectures, professional development seminars and technical briefings.


Article III - Charter

  1. This Chapter is chartered by the ACM. It is formed and will operate under the sponsorship of the ACM, the Local Activities Board, ACM SIGCHI and the SIG Board.

  2. This Chapter can be dissolved by consent of its members, or by action of the Local Activities Board with the concurrence of the SIG Board.

  3. These bylaws neither supersede nor abrogate any of the provisions in the ACM Constitution and Bylaws or Policies and Procedures of the ACM that regulate SIG or chapter affairs.

Article IV - Membership

  1. Voting membership in the Chapter shall be open to all ACM members and ACM SIG members in the locality served by the chapter upon request and payment of any local dues, as determined by the Executive Council.

  2. Voting membership in the Chapter shall also be open to other interested persons in the locality served by the Chapter upon request and payment of local dues.

  3. Student membership shall be open to all full-time students; student membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Council, but shall not exceed 75 percent of regular member dues.

Article V - Officers

  1. The officers of this Chapter shall be: Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The previous Chair holds the title of Past Chair, and shall also be considered an officer of the Chapter.

  2. All officers of the Chapter must be voting Members of the Association and members of ACM SIGCHI.

  3. Officers shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast by the voting members of the Chapter.

  4. The officers shall take office on July 1 and serve for one year.

  5. Election of officers shall be held in March, to give incoming officers an opportunity to observe and learn their respective roles and responsibilities prior to taking office in July.

  6. Vacancies resulting from officer resignations shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Council.

Article VI - Duties of Officers

  1. The Chair is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the Chapter and managing its activities in accordance with the policies and procedures of the ACM. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of this Chapter and of its Executive Council.

    With the advice of the Chapter's Executive Council, the Chair shall appoint all members of committees of this Chapter and all Committee chairs.

    The Chair is responsible for assisting the Treasurer in monitoring financial status.

  2. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all business and Executive Council meetings of the Chapter. Other duties of the Secretary include:

    A.Maintaining the records of the Chapter.

    B.Preparation of the Chapter's Activity Report and submission of this report to ACM Headquarters.

    C.Notification to ACM Headquarters of any changes in the officers of the Chapter.

    D.Submission of any proposed amendment to these bylaws to the Chairmen of the Local Activities Board and the ACM Constitution and Bylaws Committee for approval.

    E. Performing other duties that may be assigned by the Chair.

  3. The Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the Chapter. Duties of the Treasurer include:

    A. Managing the finances of the Chapter according to the policies and procedures of the ACM, including collecting dues and paying all bills.

    B. Keeping full and accurate accounts of receipts and expenditures of the Chapter.

    C. Completing and submitting the Annual Financial Report to ACM Headquarters.

    D. Performing other duties as may be assigned by the Chair.

  4. The Past Chair is responsible for assisting the Chair as appropriate, and for identifying nominees for the next term.

Article VII - Executive Council

  1. The Executive Council shall consist of the present officers of the Chapter, the immediate Past Chair, the chairs of the Chapter's standing committees and one Student-at-Large.

  2. The term of the members of the Council shall be coincident with the terms of the officers. They shall take office on the first day of the fiscal year and serve for one year.

Article VIII - Standing Committees

The Standing Committees of the Chapter shall be Program, Membership, and Online Communication.

  1. The Program Committee shall plan and make arrangements for the technical programs of the Chapter's meetings in accordance with the membership's interests and the aims of the Chapter as set forth in Article II. This committee is also responsible for distributing meeting notices to the membership.

  2. The Membership Committee shall lead recruitment activities for the Chapter, as well as manage the Chapter's liason relationships with other local professional societies or organizations.

  3. The Online Communication Committee shall manage the Chapter's electronic mailing list, and any other online presence (USENET, WWW, etc.).

Article IX - Temporary Committees

  1. With the advice of the Executive Council, the Chair may appoint such temporary committees as appropriate.

Article X - Meetings

  1. Meetings shall be held as planned by the Program Committee. The Chapter will conduct at least two meetings a year for the general membership.

  2. Written notices of all meetings shall be distributed to all members at least one week prior to any meeting.

  3. The Chapter shall hold meetings only in places that are open and accessible to all members of the Association.

  4. An Annual Business meeting shall held at the last meeting of the program (fiscal) year. At this meeting, the Secretary and Treasurer each shall present a report.

Article XI - Disbursements and Dues

  1. Disbursements from the Treasury for expenditures of the Chapter shall be made by the Treasurer with authorization of the Executive Council and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.

  2. Dues shall be fixed annually by the Executive Council.

Article XII - Amendment and Election Procedures

  1. All proposed changes to these Chapter Bylaws shall have been approved by the Chairmen of the Local Activities Board and the ACM Constitution and Bylaws Committee before being presented to the Chapter membership for a vote.

  2. No official business of the Chapter shall be conducted unless a quorum of the Chapter is present.

  3. A quorum of the Chapter shall be defined as 50 percent of the voting membership of the Chapter or at least 10 voting members, which ever is greater.

  4. A simple majority of the members present and voting shall be required to carry a motion.

  5. Officers will be elected by a plurality of votes cast. If the election is conducted by mail ballot, sufficient ballots must be returned to have constituted a quorum.

Article XIII - Dissolution of the Chapter

  1. Dissolution of this Chapter by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of the Chapter for the purpose of taking this vote.

  2. Should this Chapter be dissolved, its assets and liabilities shall be transferred to ACM and shall be supervised by the Local Activities Board.