Bylaws

 

Michigan Simulation User Group BYLAWS

 

1.  Name:

 

The name of this organization shall be the Michigan Simulation User Group, hereafter called MSUG.  The principal office of the organization shall be that of the current president of the Steering Committee.

 

2.  Charter:

 

The charter of MSUG is "To Increase Successful Use of Simulation as a Decision Support Tool."  It shall be accomplished by:

 

a.      Providing MSUG members with a forum, across the company and industry boundaries, for the mutual exchange of technical, administrative, and management information pertaining to the use of simulation technology;

 

b.      Broadening the knowledge of its members on simulation and its applications;

 

c.      Communicating with simulation software suppliers regarding their product, maintenance, and other technical requirements from end users so as to provide them ideas for improving their products;

 

d.      Cost issues both on selling the software and on performing services will be excluded from the group discussions.

 

3.  Membership:

 

Membership in MSUG is active upon completion of a written form established by the Steering Committee and receipt of the annual membership fee ($20.00 each for 1994).  Membership is available to all individuals who are active or interested in simulation technology.  No Company membership will be accepted; this is to avoid conflict of interest or violating antitrust law.

 

Annual membership is due on December 1 of each calendar year hereafter.

 

4.  Meeting:

 

At least ONE general membership meeting (referred to as the annual meeting) will be held each year.  The Steering Committee will set the time, location and agenda for the meeting. This meeting will be open to all existing members as well as any potential new members.

 

5.  Funding:

 

MSUG shall be self-funded.  Funds available from annual membership fees will cover all the necessary organizational expenses, including but not limited to postage for newsletters and meeting announcements.  All spending is subject to pre‑approval by the Steering Committee for carrying out MSUG's chartered mission.

 

6.  Voting:

 

Each member of MSUG in attendance at the annual meeting shall constitute one vote.  No block vote representing company special interest will be accepted.  Absentee ballots are allowed.

 

7.  Steering Committee:

 

The Steering Committee shall be composed of eleven members:

 

a.      President – attend and chair meetings, MC all day conference, write quarterly newsletter column, and provide agenda to steering committee prior to meeting.

b.      Program (active as president in the absence of the president) - MC SE MI general membership meetings, set agenda for annual conference, and publish & print handouts for all general membership meetings & annual conference.

c.      Treasurer - keep books, write checks, and schedule yearly audit.

d.      Secretary (including legal procedures) - attend every meeting & publish minutes, maintain & update bylaws, and serve as Historian.

e.      Membership - maintain & update member database, collect dues, handle pre-registration and on-site registration for all events.

f.        Newsletter - publish & mail quarterly newsletter, solicit articles for newsletter, update job openings section and events calendar.

g.      Public Relation - publish & mail flyers for all general membership meetings & annual conference, and set style sheet for email of these flyers.

h.      Web Site – research effort and expense of establishing/maintaining a continuously up-to-date web site, provide a report to the steering committee detailing the results of this research, and make a recommendation on whether MSUG should do this.

i.         Facilities – find location for meetings (SE MI general membership meeting and annual conference), manage communication with meeting site company, and negotiate contract terms.

j.         Speakers – recruit speakers for SE MI general membership meeting and annual conference, collect PowerPoint presentations from these speakers and handle pre-registration for vendors at annual all day conference.

k.       West MI – execute Facilities Chair and Speakers Chair responsibilities for West MI general membership meeting, and MC this event.

 

Membership on the Steering Committee shall be served on a three‑year rotational basis by MSUG members.  Each year, one-third of the committee members will be replaced by newly elected members.  Committee members re‑elected may serve one consecutive term ‑‑ a total of six-year maximum.  When a chaired member resigns during his/her tenure, a member at‑large shall be elected by the committee to replace the resigned position.  Replacement of the seat shall be conducted at the annual meeting.

 

8.  Governing:

 

The Steering Committee shall be the basic policy‑making body of MSUG.  It shall:

 

a.    establish the goals and vision for MSUG;

b.    establish membership;

c.    provide direction and operational guidelines for MSUG;

d.    oversee treasury, publication, and all other MSUG operations;

e.    plan, announce, and conduct all MSUG meetings;

f.      determine the times, locations, and themes of all meetings;

g.    nominate candidates for Steering Committee membership;

h.    consider suggestions for change from the membership;

i.      make recommendations to MSUG;

j.      execute all necessary functions on behalf of MSUG.

 

9.  Amendment of Bylaws:

 

These Bylaws can be amended, altered, repealed, or replaced by new Bylaws with the affirmative vote of two‑thirds of the committee members at any Steering Committee meeting, provided that the proposed Bylaws (and/or modifications) have been distributed in writing to all committee members no later than six weeks prior to the start of the committee meeting.