From
Dave Packer
13 June, 2002.
This is a proposal to amend the System Dynamics Society Policies. It proposes making changes to Policy 6. OFFICERS AND MEMBERS ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL, Section 1. Duties and Privilages, Vice Presidents.
A majority vote of the Policy Council is required to amend the Policies.
This proposal stems from discussion at the February 2002 Policy Council Meeting which concluded that the Society was of a size and complexity that a Vice President role focusing on Members was needed.
The Current Policy defines a Vice President - Member and Chapter Activities. The Proposal is to replace this section with two sections, (1) Vice President - Members and (2) Vice President - Chapters. It also proposes eliminating the position of Vice President At Large, as this position is not necessary.
The section to be replaced is:
Vice President - Member & Chapter Activities shall be responsible for matters pertaining to subdivisions, members and institutional members; shall monitor the service being rendered to individual members, institutional members, and subdivisions, and propose to the Council ways of improving such service; shall from time to time survey the membership so as to determine their views and opinions on current and planned activities and on the publications of the Society and of its subdivisions; shall make specific recommendations to the Council as to where new subdivisions are needed and where other subdivisions can be combined or eliminated; shall process all charter applications in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws and Policies; and shall direct activities of the Society aimed at maintaining or enlarging its membership.
This section would be deleted and replaced by the following two sections:
Vice President – Members shall be responsible for matters pertaining to members and institutional members; shall monitor the service being rendered to individual members and institutional members, and propose to the Council ways of improving such service; shall from time to time monitor the membership so as to determine their views and opinions on current and planned activities and on the publications of the Society; and shall direct activities of the Society aimed at maintaining or enlarging its membership.
Vice President - Chapters shall be responsible for matters pertaining to all Society recognized Chapters and Interest Groups in a timely manner; shall monitor the service being rendered to the Chapters and Interest Groups; and propose to the Council ways of improving such service; shall process all Chapter applications in accordance with the provisions of the Society Bylaws and Policies; shall monitor the current Chapter groups for viability of membership and standards; shall keep accurate records of Chapter and Interest Group correspondence and shall direct activities of the Society aimed at increasing the number of Chapters and Interest Groups.
The section to be eliminated is:
Vice President At Large shall supervise liaisons with other organizations, including investigation, development, recommendation and supervision of joint projects, contests and prizes; shall be concerned with factors affecting the long-term growth and development of the Society and recommend new activities, programs, subject matter, arrangements, procedures, and relationships with other groups which might further the objectives of the Society; shall recommend the deletion of activities, programs, arrangements, procedures or relationships which no longer appear best suited to the objectives of the Society; shall encourage system dynamics research projects, research centers, organizations, and in-house groups, university programs, and other public and private system dynamics research and educational activities, and recommend and supervise programs assisting these groups and activities; and shall coordinate with other Vice Presidents on projects affecting their designated functional areas.