Constitution & By-Laws

Constitution of the Michigan Section

of the American Association of Physics Teachers

MIAAPT_Constitution_v2006.pdf

The latest version of this Constitution was approved during the Fall 2006 meeting.

MIAAPT Constitution and By-Laws

(Current as of August 2006)

Article I NAME: The name of this organization shall be the Michigan Section of The American Association of Physics Teachers.

Article II OBJECTIVES: This organization shall endeavor to advance the knowledge of physics; to improve the teaching of physics; and to interest an increasing number of young people to making a career of physics.

Article III MEMBERSHIP: Any person who is, or has been, teaching physics in the State, or any resident of Michigan who is a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, is eligible for membership.

Article IV ELECTED OFFICERS: The officers shall be a president, a first vice-president (who shall serve as program chairman), a second vice- president, a secretary-treasurer, and a representative to the National council. The term of office of the president, first vice-president, and second vice-president shall be one year. Each spring a new second vice--president will be elected. The progression shall be from second vice-president to first vice-president to president. The term of office of the secretary-treasurer and the representative to the National Council shall be three years.

Article V EXECUTIVE OFFICER: The Executive Committee may appoint an unpaid Executive Officer for one-year terms to assist the Committee in Performing its assigned duties. The Executive Officer will serve at the discretion of the Committee.

Article VI COMMITTEES: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee shall consist of the current elected officers and the two most recent past-presidents. The Executive Officer shall be a non-voting member. Any member of the Section may attend Executive Committee meetings at the discretion of the Committee, but such a member shall have no vote.

Article VII ELECTIONS: Regular elections shall be held at the spring meeting.

Special elections may be arranged by the Executive Committee. 

Article VIII AMENDMENTS: Amendments to this constitution must be approved by two-thirds of those voting in a mail ballot of the membership conducted by the Executive Committee.

*Information prepared for the membeship at the fall meeting, at Michigan State University, October 23rd, 1991. Information from a copy dated January 1974.

BY-LAWS of the Michigan Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers

Article I - Dues

Article II - Meetings

Article III - Amendments 

Article I DUES: The dues of the Section shall be $7.00 per year, payable at the fall meeting or spring meetings, or by mail. 

Article II MEETINGS: Two regular meetings shall be held each year, one in the fall, and the other in the spring, at places which are designated by the Executive Committee. Special meetings may also be arranged by the Executive Committee. Members in good standing shall be notified of meetings by the secretary either directly or through the institutional department chairman. 

Article III AMENDMENTS: The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members in attendance at any regular meeting. 

Notes: The rotation of officers from second vice president to first vice- president and then to president is accomplished by rotating among the three major institutional groupings -- secondary schools, two-year colleges, and four- year colleges and universities. Thus at any one time, each institution type is represented by one of the officers in the succession. 

By Executive Committee acton, the nominating committee for election of officers consists of the current President. This action was taken in order that the committee will be most familiar with the institutions from which nominations for the second vice-president are appropriate. 

The Executve Committee has voted to invite the past three presidents to its meetings, instead of the last two as provided by the constitution. This yields the committee broader expertise, because each of the three major institution types will be represented by past presidents as well as by current officers.

Historical note: The dues were $1.00 in 1974, and paid in the spring. Later they were raised to $3.00 and paid in the fall, or by mail. Still later they were raised to $5.00. In the spring of 1991 they were raised to $7.00.  In the Fall of 2006, they were raised to $10.00.

MIAAPT By-Laws

(Proposed and Accepted August 2006)

Article IV ELECTED OFFICERS: The elected officers shall be a president, a first vice- president (who shall serve as program chairman), a second vice-president, a treasurer, and a representative to the American Association of Physics Teachers. The term of office of the president, first vice-president, and second vice-president shall be one year. A new second vice-president will be elected each spring. The progression shall be from second vice-president to first vice-president to president. The term of office of the treasurer, and the representative to the American Association of Physics Teachers shall be three years. 

Article V APPOINTED OFFICERS: The officers appointed by the Executive Committee shall be a secretary, a webmaster, and liaisons with local or national organizations.  The term of office of the secretary, the webmaster, and the liaisons shall be three years.  When possible, it is desirable to have the same person serve as both secretary and webmaster.  All appointees shall be non- voting members of the Executive Board. 

Article VI MEMBERSHIP: Any person who is interested in the teaching of physics is eligible for membership.  To become a member, an eligible person must pay the current membership fee.  

Article VII MEMBERSHIP FEE: The membership fee of the Section is determined by the Executive Board.   Payment of this fee entitles the member to attend one regular meeting as well as membership for two consecutive seasonal meetings (Fall/Spring, or Spring/Fall) depending on the date of payment.  This fee is waived for registered students.

Article VIII MEETINGS AND MEETING REGISTRATION FEES: Two regular meetings shall be held each year: one in the fall, and the other in the spring, at places that are designated by the Executive Committee. Special meetings may also be arranged by the Executive Committee. Members shall be notified of meetings by the secretary. The meeting registration fee for each meeting shall be determined by the Executive Board.  This fee is waived for registered students.  This fee for non-students is waived for one meeting if the membership fee was paid at either the current or previous seasonal meeting.