(As of May, 2008)

 

I. PURPOSE and OBJECTIVES

I-1 Chinese Association for Science and Technology, NC Chapter (CAST-NC) is registered in North Carolina as a non-political and non-profit organization.

I-2 CAST-NC achieves its objectives by sponsoring professional exchange activities; organizing meetings and producing publications devoted to science and technology; and conducting fund raising activities to support its mission. All activities will be in conformity with the local, state and federal regulations.

I-3 CAST-NC's objectives are:

I-3.1 CAST-NC pledges to promote the exchange of professional information among members. This information can be applied to attain a higher level of expertise in their respective fields of science and technology.

I-3.2 CAST-NC pledges to provide the assistance in the professional development of members in North Carolina and China .

I-3.3 CAST-NC pledges to promote the science and technology collaboration between China and North Carolina .

II MEMBERSHIP

II-1 CAST-NC's members are professionals in the fields of scientific research, technology development, educational teaching, finance, business management, law and social science, as well as other professionals and students.

II-2 Qualifications for Membership – Any professionals who upholds the By-laws, submits an application, and pays the membership dues can become a member with the approval by CAST-NC Board of Directors.

II-2 Categories of Membership – No more than one membership may be held by any one person. According to differences in due payable and other considerations, members are divided into five categories as follows-

II-2.1 Honorary Members – CAST-NC invites professionals who have achieved international recognition in the fields of education, science, technology, and business, to be honorary members. Honorary members are selected by the Board of Directors. Honorary Members do not need to pay membership fees.

II-2.2 Lifetime Members – Those individuals who pay the one-time lifetime membership fee are eligible to become lifetime members.

II-2.3 Regular Members – Regular members pay annual membership fees.

II-2.4 Student Members – Student members are currently enrolled in a college and pay annual student membership fees

II-2.5 Corporate Members – Corporate members pay annual corporate membership fees.

II-3 Membership fees – Membership fees are determined by board of directors and changes to the fees shall be made and approved by the board of directors.

II-4 Membership Privileges

II-4.1 The rights and privileges of all members are equal. A member has the right to participate all activities organized by CAST-NC, and technical committees. A member is entitled to all benefits and programs managed by CAST-NC.

II-4.2 CAST-NC members have the right to vote for and to be elected as a CAST-NC official.

II-4.3 CAST-NC members can offer suggestions and support to the growth of CAST-NC.

II-5 With the approval of over two-third of the Board of Directors, a member who is found guilty of violating the Society's bylaws and regulations will be issued a warning statement. The individual's membership will be revoked if serious damage is made to the Society as a result of the violation.

II-6 Property Rights. No individual member shall have any right, title, or interest in any of the property, assets or funds of CAST-NC, nor shall any of such property be distributed to any member on its dissolution or winding up.

II-7 Meetings of members, Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of the members shall generally be held in the last week in October or the first week in November in each year. The annual meeting can be held at other dates in the same year, with the approval of the Board of Directors. The places shall be designed from time to time by the Board of Directors. A special meeting for all active members could be held upon request from over fifty percent of the CAST-NC's members or two-third of the Board of Directors.

III. ORGANIZATION

III-1 The Board of Directors – The Board of Directors is the highest authority in CAST-NC. Its primary responsibility is to make all policies, propose amendments of the By-Law and supervise the implementation of the policies and the By-Law of CAST-NC.

III-1.1 The Board of Directors comprises elected members and automatic members defined in III-2.2. All members of CAST-NC Board of Directors have equal voting powers.

III-1.2 CAST-NC President and the Executive Vice President are automatic members of the Board of Directors. Their term expires when they leave their respective offices.

III-1.3 The Board of Directors Candidate Selection Procedure – members are eligible for the new Board of Directors if they are active members and meet one of the following requirements:

  • current member of the Board of Directors running for re-election or
  • nominated by 3 or more current members of CAST-NC.

III-1.4 The election should be held on or before the annual meeting each year. All CAST-NC active members have the right to vote. The candidates who have majority votes are elected members of CAST-NC Board of Directors. The elected members of the Board of Directors are each serving a three-year term, and may be re-elected but is limited to a maximum of two consecutive terms. Their term starts on the next CAST-NC Board meeting after the Annual Meeting or the beginning of next year, whichever comes earlier. Under certain circumstances and with an approval by two-third of the Board of Director, a director may be removed from or added to the Board; however, the total number of new additions and removal should be limited to less than one-fourth of the total number of current Board of Directors.

III-1.5 One of the elected Board of Directors will be elected by all Board of Directors to serve as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for a one-year term. The Chairperson can seek to be re-elected, but can only serve as the Chairperson for a maximum of three consecutive terms.

III-1.6 The Board of Directors should meet at least twice a year with more than three-fourth of board members attending the meeting. Decisions made by Board of Directors should have approval by more than half of the attending members unless otherwise specified.  Any changes or revisions of current policy, guideline, or proposal of By-Law amendments, should get the approval of at least three-fourth of all Board members. Board members can give their approval to the Chairperson if they can not attend the meeting.

III-2 Executive Committee – The Executive Committee includes the President, the Executive Vice President, Vice Presidents, Secretary General, Treasurer, Accountant, the Chair and Co-Chair of the Standing Committees and Professional Committees.

III-2.1 Duties of the Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is responsible for the routine operation of CAST-NC and the execution of tasks assigned by the Board of Directors. The President oversees all aspects of operation in the Executive Committee. The Executive Vice President shall serve as the coordinator for the professional committees and serve as Acting President when the President is absent. The Vice-Presidents’s duty will be assigned by President, with the approval of Board of Directors. The Secretary General shall record and arrange for publication of all meeting minutes, maintain membership directory, and CAST-NC’s database and website. The Treasurer and the Accountant are responsible for all financial transactions of CAST-NC and record keeping.

III-2.2  Candidates for the CAST-NC's President are nominated by the Board of Directors. The candidate who has the majority votes from all active members becomes the CAST-NC President. The election should be held on or before the annual meeting. The elected president will serve a one –year term which lasts from this annual meeting to next annual meeting. Other executive committee members will be nominated by President subject to the approval of Board of Directors and their terms are the same with the President’s term. The President and the Executive Vice President can be re-elected but should not be at the same office for more than three consecutive terms.

III-2.3 CAST-NC members of Board of Directors can serve as CAST-NC Executive Committee members. Should any member of Board of Directors choose to serve as President or Executive President, he or she should resign his/her position as a member of the CAST-NC Board of Directors after being elected as President or Executive President. Any new elected member who fills his/her vacancy only serve for the remaining period of the original term.

III-2.4 Under certain circumstances and with approvals from two-third of the Board of Director, the CAST-NC's President and other Executive Committee members can be removed.

III-2.5 Standing Committees – Subject to the approval of Board of Directors, CAST-NC President can create Standing Committee and appoint chairs of each department with specific administrative functions such as fund raising, member service, and publication. Members of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors can also serve as Standing Committee Chairs.

III-2.6 Professional Committee – Subject to the approval of Board of Directors, CAST-NC can establish various technical or professional committees to meet the needs of members' interests, research and development objectives. Each professional committee is operated independently from the technical subject point of view. Each professional committee shall generally have a Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons and may have additional administrative officers appointed by the Committee Chairperson(s).

III-3 The Advisory Committee – The Advisory Committee functions as consultant to CAST-NC activities. The advisors are highly accomplished, experienced professionals in their respective fields, and are nominated and approved by the Board of Directors.

IV. MEETINGS AND PUBLICATIONS

IV-1 CAST-NC will hold regularly meetings to promote interaction among its members and the exchange of information and expertise in their fields. Seminars and other meetings will be scheduled as needed.

IV-2 CAST-NC will publish a newsletter to inform its members of activities, as well as communicate the latest developments in the science and technology in North Carolina and in China .

IV-3 CAST-NC seeks to publish a membership directory and to maintain a database to inform its members of employment and career enhancement opportunities.

IV-4 Prominent Chinese and Americans will be invited to present seminars on the development of science and technology concerning professionals in North Carolina and to speak about future prospects.

IV-5 CAST-NC seeks to organize its members to undertake various research projects related to science and technology professionals in North Carolina , and to provide its members and other similar organizations with information and assistance.

V. DISSOLUTION

V-1 Dissolution of the CAST-NC by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of CAST-NC for the purpose of taking this vote.

V-2 Should CAST-NC be dissolved, its assets shall be transferred to charitable organizations or organizations having power to engage in activities similar to those of CAST-NC, as determined by the Board of Directors.

VI. By-Law Amendment Process

VI-1 Any By-Law amendment should be proposed by CAST-NC Board of Directors, with the approval of at least three-fourth of all members of Board of Directors.

VI-2 The By-Law Amendment proposed by Board of Directors will take effect after it get the approval of at least three-fourth  of all active members who participate in the voting.

VII. EXPLANATION OF THE BYLAWS

The Board of Directors has the sole right to interpret this By-Law.

Last modified: May, 2008.