Your link to the international materials, metals and minerals community

BYLAWS

Article 1: Name and Mission

• Section 1: Name
  This organization shall be known henceforth as the International Organization of Minerals, Metals & Materials Societies (IOMMMS), hereafter referred to in this Bylaws as "Organization."
  
  
• Section 2: Mission
  The mission of the Organization shall be to promote and facilitate communication and cooperation among the worldwide minerals, metals and materials societies and institutes to the benefit of their members and the enhancement of the profession and industries associated with them. In achieving its mission, it shall:
  • Provide a forum through its annual meeting for the discussion and exchange of information on issues and opportunities among its member bodies
  • Provide a network for communication, visiting speakers, and exchange among its member bodies
  • Provide for the coordination of conferences, publications, electronic communication, continuing education, student activities and, where appropriate, membership affairs and services between and among the member societies and institutes in order to make optimal use of their resources
  • Provide reciprocal arrangements for advertising conferences and publications in each other's journals
  • Provide for synergistic interaction between engineers and scientists and educators within the minerals, metals and materials field worldwide

Article II: Members

• Section 1: Members
  Any national or multi-national society or federation which is active in the field of materials can apply for admission to the Organization with the exception of societies which:
  • are involved in political activities or which have links with a political party, or
  • discriminate between persons on the basis of their political beliefs, religion, race or gender, or
  • include in their principal activities, the conduct of negotiations on their members' behalf on subjects relating to salaries or conditions of employment, or
  • distribute profits to their members.
  There will be one class of membership, full member. Full membership is limited to a maximum of three major societies per country, and one federation per continent, and to multi-national societies whose status is appropriate.
  
  
• Section 2: Election Procedure
  The Council will decide by vote on all applications for membership, taking into account the reputation and prestige of the applicant, the extent of its activities, the quality of its publications and meetings and of its affiliations, if such exist, to other national or international organizations. All applications for membership must be supported by two Members.
  
  A member wishing to leave the Organization should give notice to the Chair of Council of its intention to do so. Resignation will take effect immediately but will not release the resigning member from any financial liability accepted before its resignation vis-à-vis the Organization.
  
  The Council has the power to expel any member whose activities it considers incompatible with the aims of the Organization. This expulsion will be proposed by the Executive Committee, after having heard the arguments of the member concerned either orally or in writing. The vote on the expulsion of a member will be by secret ballot.

Article III: Governance

• Section 1: Council Structure
  The Council shall have general supervision and charge over the affairs and activities of the Organization. The Council will decide the policy of the Organization and will make all necessary decisions to promote its aims. The Council will be made up of two representatives of each of its Members (as a rule its President and Chief Staff Officer). Members will have two (2) votes. The Council will normally meet once a year. The Chair can convene other assemblies should the need arise. The notices and agenda for the meetings of the Council will be sent out at least 28 days before the meeting is to be held.
  
  The Council will elect a Chair and three Vice chairs, who will each serve a two (2) year term in office and can be re-elected for a further period of two years. The three Vice Chairs will be drawn from different geographic regions as deemed appropriate by the Council at the time these posts are due to be filled.
  
  
• Section 2: Council Voting Policies and Procedures
  The deliberations and resolution of the Council are only valid if a simple majority of the Members is present. Should this quorum not be reached, Council has the power to ratify decisions by mail.
  
  All resolutions of the Council will be by simple majority of the votes cast by those Members present, with the exception of subjects concerning the admission or exclusion of a member, the modification of the Bylaws or the dissolution of the Organization, in which case a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast will be required.
  
  
• Section 3: Secretariat
  A member society, elected by the Council, will assume the functions of Secretary. These functions will normally be exercised for a period of four years, but can be extended by mutual agreement. The Secretary will be responsible for the organization of meetings of the Council, and the Executive Committee, for ensuring the implementation of decisions taken by the Executive Committee and the Council, for the dissemination of information to members, and for the keeping of Minutes.
  
  Minutes will be kept summarizing the proceedings of each meeting of the Council and Executive Committee. The Minutes will be drawn up in English and will be distributed by the Secretariat as soon after the meeting as possible. Any proposed amendment to the Minutes will be taken into account at the next council meeting. The final version of the Minutes will be signed by the Chair and distributed to all members.
  
  
• Section 4: Executive Committee
  The Executive Committee will be made up of the Chair, the three Vice Chairs and two members, each from a different country, elected by the Council. Each member will be elected for a period of two years and can be re-elected for a further period of two years. During the first five years of the Organization's existence retirements of members from the Committee are envisaged in order to provide a system of rotation. The Executive Committee will be responsible for the implementation of decisions of the Council and will meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities effectively. The Executive Committee can sit when two-thirds of its members (or the number which is the nearest below) are present. Decisions will be taken by a simple majority of the votes cast. Between meetings of the Executive Committee the Chair will have the power to act in the Organization's name on urgent matters after having sought the agreement of the Presidents of member societies and individual members, if it is necessary to do so.

Article IV: Meetings

• Section 1: Annual Meeting
  The Organization will hold one annual meeting of the Council each year. The site and date to be determined by the Council the year prior. The site will rotate as appropriate among the Member Bodies who wish to host the Council.
  
  
• Section 2: Special Meetings
  Special meetings of the Council may be called as needed by the Chair with the consent of a majority of the Council.
  
  
• Section 3: Agenda
  The agenda for the meetings will be ad hoc in nature and content, addressing timely issues of interest and concern to the Member Bodies.

Article V: Finances

• Section 1: Dues/Fees
  The ordinary expenditure of the Secretariat and any other expenses approved by the Council (for example, special publications, translation of documents, organization of activities) will be shared among member societies by mutual agreement.