BYLAWS
of the
SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS
(as amended through September 22, 2004)
Preamble – Name, Objectives and Purposes
Section 1 – Name
The name of this organization shall be
SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS.
Section 2 – Objectives
The objectives of the Association shall be to
encourage dissemination of information within the field of forensic sciences and
to discuss problems of common interest; to foster friendship and cooperation
among forensic scientists; to stimulate research and development of new
techniques within the field; to promote the use of standardized methodology and
presentation of conclusions; to encourage compilation of statistical data of
value in the field; to assist in maintaining a high level of professional
competence among practicing forensic scientists, and to lend assistance to
colleges and universities in the development of forensic science and related
curricula and to law enforcement planning agencies.
Chapter I – Membership
Section 1 – Eligibility for Membership
Membership in the Association shall be
available for Forensic Scientists of professional competency, integrity, and
good moral character. For the purpose of membership, a Forensic Scientist is a
person who holds an earned baccalaureate in one of the natural sciences or in an
appropriate field, whose principal business is the application of natural
science to the examination of evidence for presentation in courts of law, and
who has given expert testimony in court concerning his examinations. The
Association may receive into Associate Membership any person employed in a
Forensic Laboratory who is actively engaged in a professional or educational
pursuit which will lead to becoming a Forensic Scientist, or any person who has
advanced the cause of Forensic Science in a significant manner.
Section 2 – Qualifications for Membership
Classes
The qualifications for the various memberships
are:
(a) Associate
Any Forensic Scientist or any person who is
employed in a Forensic Laboratory and is engaged in a professional or
educational pursuit which will lead to becoming a Forensic Scientist or any
person who has advanced the cause of Forensic Science in a significant manner
may be elected to Associate Membership, provided that the applicant:
(1) have attended (registered) at least one
meeting of the Association, prior to application,
(2) be extensively endorsed in writing by a
voting member, and,
(3) receive the approval of a three-fourths
(3/4) majority of the voting members present at a September business meeting.
(b) Regular
Any Associate Member in good standing may be
elected to regular membership provided that the applicant:
(1) have been an Associate Member in good
standing for at least one year,
(2) have met all the requirements of Forensic
Scientist for the two years prior to election to Regular Membership, and
(3) receive the approval of three-fourths
(3/4) majority of the voting members present at a September business meeting.
(c) Charter
Forensic Scientists attending any meeting of
this body prior to the adoption of the initial constitution (September 9,
1966) shall be classified as Charter Members.
(d) Retired
Any voting member may be proposed by the
Membership Committee for Retired class who (1) has been pensioned, and (2) is
no longer working in forensic science, and (3) has been a forensic scientist
for twenty years, and (4) has been a SAFS member for ten years at the time
that retired status is granted. The Committee may also propose for this status
any voting member of the Association who has been granted a disability pension
by his employer, and who is no longer practicing forensic science. This
classification must be confirmed by favorable vote of three-fourths (3/4) of
the voting members present at a September business meeting. A retired member
shall be excused from the payment of dues.
(e) Affiliate
Any student enrolled in an accredited four
year college or university, whose major field of endeavor leads to becoming a
Forensic Scientist may be elected to a limited three (3) year affiliate
membership, provided the applicant:
(1) submit proof of enrollment in an
institute of higher learning in a program leading to becoming a forensic
scientist (satisfied by signature of faculty advisor or department head on
application),
(2) be extensively endorsed in writing by
one (1) voting member, and
(3) receive the approval of a three-fourths
(3/4) majority at a September business meeting.
Section 3 – Voting Members
The term “voting member” shall refer
only to Charter, Regular, and Retired Members.
Section 4 – Application for Membership
Application for Associate Membership or for
change of membership classification shall be made in writing to the Treasurer.
The application shall set forth the qualifications of the applicant, which must
meet the requirements of the class of membership sought. All applications and
supporting documents must be received by the Treasurer by June 1 prior to the
September business meeting in which the application will be voted upon. Those
applications which are prima facie complete in all respects shall, not later
than June 15 of each year, be forwarded to the chairman of the Membership
Committee, which committee shall consider and make a recommendation concerning
each application to the voting members present at the following September
business meeting. Proposals for membership or change of membership
classification shall be considered only at the September business meetings.
Section 5 – Termination of Membership
Membership shall be terminated for the
following reasons:
(a) Termination upon Request of Member
Any member may terminate his membership in the
Association by a written request directed to the Treasurer of the Association.
The Treasurer shall inform the members of the Association of each termination at
the next regular business meeting.
(b) Termination for Failure to Pay Dues
The Treasurer shall issue one (1) written
dues notice between October 1 and December 30 of each fiscal year. Any member
who shall fail to pay his annual dues by May 1 of the second consecutive
fiscal year will automatically be dropped from membership. Any member dropped
for the above reason may be readmitted only upon the filing of a new
application which shall receive the same consideration as any other
application and which must be submitted according to the rules and regulations
governing applications. The Treasurer shall inform the member of the
Association of such termination at the next regular business meeting.
(c) Termination for Cause
A member may be expelled from the
Association for unethical conduct, conduct detrimental to the profession of
forensic science, or conduct detrimental to the welfare of the Association.
A member or members of the Association may initiate proceeding to expel
another member for cause by petitioning in writing to the President, who
will refer the matter to the Ethics Committee. Three-fourths (3/4) of the
voting members at any business meeting is required for expulsion of any
member.
(d) Termination for Ineligibility
Any member who is no longer eligible for
membership may be dropped from membership upon recommendation of either the
Membership Committee or any voting member provided that the recommendation
receive a favorable vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the voting members
present at any business meeting. A member so affected shall have the right
to appear at one subsequent business meeting for the purpose of appealing
the decision of the membership. No member of the Association at the time of
adoption of this subsection (August 30, 1977) shall be dropped for lack of
an earned baccalaureate.
Chapter II – Meetings
Section 1 – Semiannual Meetings
Annual meetings shall normally be held in
September of each year, except that the month may be changed as
ordered by a majority of the voting members at any business meeting. The place
and date of the meetings shall be selected in advance by the Consultant
Committee, which selections must be ratified by a majority vote of the
membership at a regular business meeting.
Section 2 – Scientific Program
At each regular business meeting there shall
be elected a General Program Chairman and Special Program Chairmen for each of
the specialization areas of forensic science for which a section program is
desired at the meeting of the following year.
The Special Program Chairmen thus elected will have total responsibility for
developing the style and content of their respective section programs. The
General Program Chairman will be responsible for any Plenary or General Program
for the meeting, and for coordinating the efforts of the Special Program
Chairmen in order to prepare a printed program in advance of the meeting. The
General Program Chairman will function as the chairman of the Program Committee,
composed of himself, the Special Program Chairmen, the Social Program Chairman,
and volunteers from the membership at large.
Section 3 – Social Program
A Social Program Chairman, who shall be a
member of the Program Committee, will be appointed by the President on the
advice of the Consultant Committee at the time that the meeting site is ratified
by the membership. The duties of the Social program Chairman will be to make
local arrangements for meeting rooms, room reservations, food and refreshments,
and to plan any banquets, luncheons, or other social activities for the meeting.
The social Program Chairman will also arrange for any exhibits of scientific
equipment or other items of interest to the membership.
Section 4 – Registration Fee
The registration fee for each meeting will be
determined by the Program Committee and will be set at an amount sufficient to
cover all meeting costs. Affiliates and non-member students enrolled in
curricula leading to careers in forensic science shall be allowed to register
for the scientific program for a fee of five dollars. Any fund balance resulting
from the meeting proceeds will revert to the Treasury of the Association. A fund
deficit may be paid from the Treasury upon authorization of the Executive
Committee.
Chapter III – Officers and Management
Section 1 – Officers
Officers of the Association shall consist of a
President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. Officers shall be elected
annually at the September business meeting and shall hold office for one year or
until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. In the event of
the death or incapacitation or resignation of a President, the Vice-President
shall automatically be elevated to the office of President for the unexpired
term. In the event of the death or incapacitation or resignation of both the
President and Vice-President, the position will be held by the Treasurer for the
remainder of the term. All officers elected at the Fall business meeting shall
assume office upon adjournment of the general technical meeting. Only voting
members may hold office.
Section 2 – Management
The general management of the Association,
including levying of dues, shall be the responsibility of the majority of the
voting members present at the business meeting unless otherwise provided for in
the Bylaws.
A quorum to conduct business at any business
meeting shall consist of at least twenty (20) voting members.
All members, associate members, Charter
members, Retired members and prospective members are allowed to attend and
participate in the discussions of the business meeting. This access to the
business meeting may be limited to voting members when discussing or voting on
an application for membership by a prospective member or an application for
promotion of an Associate member or at the discretion of the President. The
President may designate a specific seating area for persons who are not voting
members during a business meeting.
Section 3 – Duties of the President and the
Vice-President
The President shall preside at the business
meetings and appoint necessary committees. In the absence of the President, the
Vice-President shall preside. In the absence of both, the voting members shall
elect a voting member to serve as President pro tempore.
Section 4 – Duties of the Treasurer and
Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for the
recording of the minutes of all meetings and shall receive and care for all
business records and papers belonging to the Association. The Treasurer shall
bill, collect and keep account of, and properly safeguard all funds of the
Association. The Treasurer shall maintain a record of all members’ attendance
at regular meetings.
Section 5 – Access to Records
The files, books, and records of the
Association shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection and examination
by any voting member. Upon vacating office for any reason the past office holder
must turn over all files, books, and records to his successor in office.
Chapter IV – Committees
Section 1 – Designation
In addition to the Executive Committee,
consisting of the current President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and
Chairman of the Consultant Committee, the Association shall have the following
standing committees, annually appointed by the President not later than thirty
(30) days following his election to office: (a) Membership, (b) Finance, (c)
Consultant, (d) Historical, and (e) Nominating. The functions, composition, and
tenure of these committees are:
(a) Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall consist of
a chairman, and two (2) other voting members. It shall fulfill all
requirements concerning the membership of the Association as stated in these
Bylaws.
(b) Finance Committee
The Finance committee shall consist of a
chairman and two (2) voting members who shall not hold any other office or
serve on any other committee of the Association while serving in this
capacity. The Finance Committee shall, not less than once per fiscal year,
inspect and/or audit all financial records.
(c) Consultant Committee
The Consultant Committee shall consist of
the five (5) past Presidents together with other voting members, if any, as
designated by the President. The Consultant Committee chairman shall be the
immediate past President. The Consultant Committee shall assist in all
undertakings authorized by the voting members to implement the objectives of
the Association. The Consultant Committee shall recommend a meeting site for
ratification by the membership and a Social Program Chairman for appointment
by the President at least two years in advance of each regular meeting of
the Association.
(d) Historical Committee
The Historical Committee shall consist of
a chairman and two (2) other voting members. The Secretary shall serve as an
ex-officio member. The Historical Committee shall maintain all records,
files, and exhibits relative to the history of the Association.
(e) Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall consist of
a chairman and four (4) voting members. The Nominating Committee shall be
responsible for presenting nominations for President, Vice-President, and
Treasurer and Secretary at the September business meeting. One year in
advance of each meeting of the Association the Nominating Committee shall
present nominations for each of the specialization areas of forensic science
for which a section program is desired.
(f) Awards Committee
The Awards Committee shall consist of a
Chairman and four (4) voting members. The Awards Committee shall be
responsible for selecting and preparing the awards for the recipients of :
(1) The SAFS Outstanding Contribution to
Forensic Sciences Awards, to be awarded at the discretion of the Committee.
(2) The SAFS Outstanding Paper Award, to be
awarded at the discretion of the Committee to the person or persons presenting
the outstanding Juried Paper at each SAFS meeting.
(3) The AAFS Regional Award – when
applicable.
Section 2 – Other Committees
Committees other than the standing committees
shall be formed as follows:
(a) Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee, consisting of the
Executive Committee and two (2) voting members appointed by the President,
shall be activated by the President when action against a member is initiated
according to the regulations as set forth in Chapter 1, Section 5(c) of these
Bylaws. If available within the voting membership, the two appointed voting
members must be practicing the same scientific discipline as the accused. The
Ethics Committee shall:
(1) investigate all such claims of
unprofessional conduct as enumerated;
(2) allow the accused and the accuser a
reasonable opportunity to be heard at to be confronted; and
(3) give a report and recommendation to the
membership at the next business meeting of the Association.
(b) Authority to Appoint other Committees
The President shall have the authority to
appoint all other necessary and appropriate committees.
Section 3 – Submission of Records and Papers
At each business meeting the chairman of each
committee shall submit to the Secretary all pertinent records on which action
has been completed by the voting membership.
Chapter V – Expenditures
Section 1 – Funds for Committee Functions
Any and all expenses chargeable to the
Association must be approved through the Executive Committee. No member of the
Executive Committee or any appointed committee shall receive, directly or
indirectly, any salary or compensation for his services.
Section 2 – Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year shall be from the first day of October through
the thirtieth day of September of each year.
Chapter VI – Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1 – Rules of Order
Unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the
voting members present, the order of business at the annual meeting shall
be as follows:
(1) Reading and Approval of Minutes
(2) Reports of Officers, Boards, and Standing
Committees
(3) Reports of Special (Select or ad hoc)
Committees
(4) Special Orders
(5) Unfinished Business and General Orders
(6) New Business
“Robert’s Rules of Order” shall
determine the Parliamentary procedure of the meetings.
Section 2 – Repeal of Previous Constitution
and Bylaws
These Bylaws shall become effective
immediately upon adoption by the voting members, and the previous constitution
together with all Bylaws are hereby repealed.
Chapter VII – Amendments
Any part of these Bylaws may be amended by a
three-fourths (3/4) vote of the voting members present at the September meeting,
provided a quorum is present and that copies of each proposed amendment shall
have been distributed to all voting members at least thirty (30) days in advance
of the meeting at which action is to be taken.
*******
The foregoing Bylaws were adopted by unanimous
action of the voting members present at the twenty-third regular business
meeting of the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists held at the Jovon
Hotel in Auburn, Alabama, 09 September 1976, a quorum being present. The Bylaws
were amended in Chapter I – Membership at the twenty-fifth regular business
meeting, 26 August 1977, in Chapter II – Meetings, at the thirty-first regular
meeting, 05 September 1980, in Chapter I – Membership and Chapter IV –
Committees at the thirty-seventh regular meeting, 09 September 1983, in Chapter
I – Membership at the thirty-ninth regular meeting, 05 October 1987, in Chapter
IV – Committees at the fortieth regular meeting, 13 September 1985, in Chapter I
– Membership at the fiftieth regular meeting, 06 September 1990, in Chapter I
-Management at the sixty-fifth regular meeting, 05 September 1997 and in Chapter
I – Membership, Chapter III – Officers and Management and Chapter IV –
Committees at the 71st regular meeting, 12 September, 2000, in Chapters II and
VI – Meetings and Miscellaneous Provisions at the seventy-ninth regular meeting,
22 September 2004.