By-Laws of the Canadian Division of the ACA

(Revised 1992.8.12 at a meeting of the Canadian Division, modified and approved 92.8.13 by the Council)

I. Name

The name of the Division shall be the Canadian Division of the American Crystallographic Association. The American Crystallographic Association is hereinafter referred to as the ACA.

II. Purpose

The purpose of the Division is to represent the interests of Canadian crystallographers within the ACA, to provide for the election of a Canadian Representative (hereinafter the Representative) to the Council of the ACA according to the provisions of the ACA By-laws and to promote scientific discussion among members of the ACA resident in Canada.

III. Relationship to the American Crystallographic Association

The By-laws of this Division shall be consistent with the By-laws and Operating Rules of the ACA. In the event of conflict, the By-laws and Operating Rules of the ACA shall prevail.

IV. Membership

All members of the ACA who are shown in the records of the ACA as having a mailing address in Canada are members of the Division.

V. Organization

The activities of the Division shall be governed by an Executive consisting of a Chair, a Secretary and the Representative (ex officio). The Chair and Secretary shall each hold office for two years except for the first elected Secretary who shall hold office for three years in order to ensure that the terms of Chair and Secretary are staggered. All meetings will be held at the call of the Chair and in any case a business meeting shall be held at least once a year in conjunction with a scientific meeting of the ACA. The Chair, or the chair's delegate, shall preside at all meetings of the Executive or general meetings of the Division. The Chair may appoint ad-hoc committees. The Secretary shall keep minutes and records of meetings of the Executive and general meetings of the Division. The Executive shall ensure that at least two nominations are provided for all posts in years when they fall vacant.

VI. Activities

The Division may engage in any activities that are consistent with the By-laws and Operating Rules of the ACA and which further the purposes of the Division. These may include, but are not limited to, organizing meetings of its members.

VII. Elections and Voting

Nominations for the Chair, Representative and Secretary must be made in writing signed by any three members of the Division for the Chair and Secretary, and any five members of the Division for the Representative, and signed by the candidate signifying willingness to stand. The election of officers shall be by mail ballot conducted in association with the elections of officers of the ACA. The candidate with the largest number of votes for any office shall be declared elected.

VIII. Amendments

An amendment to these By-laws may be proposed at any time by the Executive or by any 10 members of the Division and must be put to a vote of the membership within 12 months. Voting shall be by mail ballot. The amendment must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the members voting.