Section 1. The name of our SIGMAA is Environmental Mathematics. It will usually be referred to as SIGMAA-EM.
Section 2. SIGMAA-EM has two goals. The primary goal is to provide a forum for discussion and promotion of mathematical analysis and problem-solving arising from environmental sources. This will include not only the development of mathematical models but also related pedagogical issues. A secondary goal is to contribute to an awareness of our responsibility to address environmental issues, such as recycling and energy conservation, and to utilize sound mathematical analysis to support such promotional activities. Such efforts will be focused on our own profession or institutions,
perhaps contributing to a further greening of the MAA, or more globally through efforts with public school systems or in the media.
Since environmental issues are inherently interdisciplinary, lend themselves to team efforts, and offer an abundance of mathematical content at many levels, these goals are designed to attract mathematicians from many specialties as well as physical and social scientists and engineers. These goals demonstrate to the larger community that mathematics recognizes its responsibility to address issues important to society. Further, they will appeal to the inherent environmental interests of young people of our society, including students of mathematics.
Section 1. SIGMAA-EM will pursue its goals through activities such as:
a) Organizing presentations and workshops at national, section and regional meetings.
b) Encouraging members to publish and otherwise disseminate information.
c) Promoting organizational and individual environmental responsibility.
d) Maintaining a Web page, and a data base of publications, workshops and other activities.
e) Promoting the creation and dissemination of classroom electronic and print materials.
f) Recruiting students to SIGMAA-EM and encouraging their professional activity.
Section 2. Relations with MAA Activities:
a) SIGMAA-EM will maintain close ties with and cooperate with other organizations with similar goals.
b) SIGMAA-EM activities will be represented as coming from the MAA at large only if these activities have been approved by the MAA Executive Committee.
c) SIGMAA-EM will submit annual reports of its activities to the MAA Committee on SIGMAAs and to the Chair of the Coordinating Council to which it is assigned.
Section 1. SIGMAA-EM will meet at Mathfest and at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in January. The Council (below) will have a (physical, phone or e-) meeting to set an agenda at least eight weeks before the next membership meeting. A suggested agenda will be e-mailed to members no more than two weeks later to allow one week for members to comment, add items, etc. The final agenda, along with notice of the meeting time and location, will be e-mailed to members at least three weeks before the meeting date.
Section 2. Meetings will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s (simplified) Rules of Order except when they conflict with the rules set forth in this document. Decisions will be reached by consensus (no objections) whenever possible. If consensus is not attainable, decisions will be reached by an absolute majority ( yeas – nays = simple majority vote). A simple majority vote will be used only when a yea or nay vote is required under a time constraint, as in such cases where an MAA governing body requires a decision.
Section 3. Electronic meetings may be held to decide specific issues.
Section 4. A quorum is defined for Membership meetings as follows:
January - 10% of the Membership, including four members of the Council*.
Mathfest - 5% of the Membership, including three members of the Council.
Electronic - 20% of the Membership, including six members of the Council.
Section 5. The quorum for a Council meeting is four members.
Article IV Membership
Membership is open to any MAA member.
Article V Officers
Section 1. The executive arm of SIGMAA-EM, known as the Council, shall consist of ten elected members. Elected members will serve staggered three-year terms. No one may occupy the same office for more than six consecutive years. The Coordinator may, by appointment, fill Council positions vacated during the position's designated term.
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The Council
1) Coordinator Presides at all meetings, reports to the Membership and Council, serves as liaison to MAA governing bodies and officers. Appoints, with the consent of the Council, two non-officers to the Nominating Committee.
2) Associate Coordinator Chairs Nominating Committee. Assists the Coordinator. Note: Assoc. Coordinator takes over in the Coordinator’s absence.
3) Secretary Keeps records of all meetings, handles correspondence, & completes MAA reports. Note: Secretary takes over in the Coordinator and Associate Coordinator's absence.
4) Treasurer Keeps track of expenditures and the MAA account. Ensures that requests for expenditures are carried out in the proper manner.
5) Formal Activity Coordinator Encourages members to organize formal Mathematical events so that there are some Environmental Mathematics activities at every MAA meeting.
6). Informal Activity Coordinator Encourages members to organize informal Mathematical events such as skits, social events, etc.
7) Student Affairs Coordinator Responsible for encouraging student participation.
8) Web Master Edits and maintains web pages.
9) Archivist Keeps a record of all environmental mathematics activities, including dates, organizers, etc. Works closely with the Webmaster.
10) Grant Coordinator Seeks sources of external support for SIGMAA-EM (as per Article VII).
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Section 2. The Council will make decisions by consensus (no objections) whenever possible. If consensus is not attainable, the Council will make decisions by a simple majority vote. A simple majority vote will be used only when a yea or nay vote is required and there is a time constraint.
Section 3. The Nominating Committee will propose a slate of candidates for each position. The Nominating Committee consists of two SIGMAA-EM members who are not on the Council and the Associate Coordinator, as chair. The Committee should actively encourage self-nominations and make every effort to have (at least) two candidates for each position.
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Time table:
• 01-30 SEP - Send out an electronic call for nominees, allowing (at least) two weeks for responses. Construct a ballot based on the responses and Committee suggestions.
• 01 –31 OCT - The election will be conducted through an online balloting system, by the MAA office, allowing at least two weeks for responses. Every returned ballot should be promptly acknowledged. The candidate receiving a plurality of votes will be appointed to the position. If candidates for a position receive the same number of votes, the Council will select from the tied candidates.
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Elected Council members will begin their terms following the annual meeting in January.
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Article VI Finances
Section 1. An annual MAA dues supplement shall be assessed each member of SIGMAA-EM. This fee will be used to support, in part, the activities of the SIGMAA and the manner of collection and disbursement of these funds will be determined by the MAA Executive Committee. The initial amount will be $10 per year. The SIGMAA may formerly request a change of this amount by sending such a request to the MAA committee on SIGMAAs, which after consideration will forward a recommendation to the MAA Executive Committee. The MAA Executive Committee may also initiate a request for a change of the dues supplement.
Section 2. SIGMAA-EM shall submit an expense budget for each calendar year to the Chair of the MAA Budget Committee no later than March 15 of the preceding year. It shall include the projected cost for any regularly planned activities, including receptions, room charges, equipment, etc., at national meetings. The budget is subject to the approval of the MAA Executive Committee.
Section 3. SIGMAA-EM may apply to the MAA for specific funding beyond what is provided from dues. All requests for funds shall be substantiated by a budget for the proposed expenditures.
Section 4. Requests for funds from the MAA require the following approval:
1) Up to $50 Coordinator, Associate Coordinator or Treasurer
2) $50 to $150 as in item 1 plus two Council members
3) $150+ As in item 1 plus two Council members
Article VII External Funding
Section 1. SIGMAA-EM may write grant proposals to be submitted by the MAA. The SIGMAA will follow the policies and procedures of the MAA for all such submissions.
Section 2. Neither SIGMAA-EM nor any of its representatives shall have any authority to contract debts for, pledge the credit of, or in any way bind the MAA.
Article VIII Changes
Section 1. Changes to this Charter may be proposed by SIGMAA-EM if a recommendation for such changes is supported by a two-thirds majority of the members voting. The proposed changes must be then submitted for consideration to the committee on SIGMAAs, which will forward a recommendation on approval to the MAA Executive Committee.
Section 2. Changes to this Charter may also be initiated by the MAA Executive Committee, which will forward such a request to the MAA Committee on SIGMAAs. In turn, the Committee on SIGMAAs will work with SIGMAA-EM to develop the specific new language for the charter that is acceptable to SIGMAA-EM. The Committee on SIGMAAs will then forward the revised Charter to the MAA Executive Committee to be considered for approval. In this event, changes must be approved by the Board of Governors.
Article IX Dissolution
Section 1. This SIGMAA shall be dissolved for either of the
following reasons.
a. Failure to maintain at least 20 members for two consecutive years;
b. For reasons agreed to by a majority of the Board of Governors.
Section 2. If dissolved, any unspent funds of this SIGMAA shall be returned to the MAA’s general fund.
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EM-SIG Initial Slate
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Term
(yrs)
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Expires
31 DEC
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1)
Coordinator
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Ben Fusaro
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1
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2004
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2)
Associate Coordinator
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Don Miller
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2
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2005
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3)
Assistant Coordinator
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Nancy Zumoff
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3
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2006
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4)
Secretary
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Ahlam Tannouri
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1
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2004
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5)
Treasurer
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Bill Stone
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2
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2005
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6)
Formal Activity Coord.
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Karen Bollinger
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3
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2006
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7)
Informal Activity Coord.
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Jochim Schalt
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1
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2004
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8)
Student Affairs Coord.
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Mohammad Moazzam
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2
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2005
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9)
PIO
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Greg Langkamp
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3
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2006
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10)
Webmaster
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Marty Walter
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1
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2004
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11)
Archivist
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David Trunnel
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2
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2005
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12) . Grant
Coordinator |
Marcia Sward
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3
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2006
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| 13) Liaison |
Pat Kenschaft
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1
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2004
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