American Automatic Control Council: Bylaws

Table of Contents

Article I - Activities
Article II - Membership
Article III - Board of Directors
Article IV - Officers
Article V - Finances
Article VI - Committees
Article VII - Awards
Article VIII - ACC
Article IX - IFAC
Article X - Official Communications
Article XI - Amendments
Article XII - Operating Guides
Article XIII - Conferences
Information

Article I - Activities

1. Scope: In pursuing its major objectives, AACC shall not engage in any substantial activity which is in direct competition with activities of its Member Societies. The general philosophy underlying AACC activities is that AACC shall provide services for, or on behalf of, its Member Societies and undertake activities which exceed the scope of any one Member Society.
2. Joint Activities: Upon request of one or more Member Societies or on the Board of Director initiative, the Board may authorize a Member Society to organize joint activities with AACC or under the AACC name, subject to a formal agreement. The formal agreement for the joint activity shall specify the division of responsibility and authority between AACC and the Operating Society, the operating rules, and the financial participation. The agreement must be ratified by Directors representing a majority of the Sponsoring Societies.
3. Services: When consistent with its educational and scientific purposes, AACC may provide to an individual Member Society such services as may be authorized by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Article II - Membership

1. Admission
1.1 A Society seeking admission to AACC as a Sponsoring Member or Participating Member shall submit a written application to the AACC Secretary who will distribute copies to the Admissions Committee.
1.2 Before taking final action on an application, The Board of Directors may require the applicant Society to participate in AACC activities for one year on an informal non-binding basis.
1.3 The admission resolution voted on by the Board shall specify the effective date of membership. In the case of admission to Sponsoring Membership, the approval resolution shall be submitted to the Sponsoring Societies for an official vote before the new membership becomes effective.
2. Change of Classification
2.1 A change of classification from Participating to Sponsoring Membership is subject to the requirements of paragraph 1 above.
2.2 A change of classification from Sponsoring to Participating Membership becomes effective upon 90-day written notice to the AACC Secretary.
3. Legal and Tax Status The requirements of the Constitution will be deemed satisfied if a Society is exempt from USA federal income tax as an organization described in Section 501 (c)(3) or (c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, or successor provisions thereto, and is independent of all political, commercial, industrial, labor, or profit-making organizations

Article III - Board Of Directors

1. Certification of Directors
1.1 Changes in AACC Board representation shall be certified in writing to the AACC Secretary by the Member Society effecting the change.
1.2 In the event a Sponsoring Member appoints more than one alternate, it shall certify to the AACC Secretary the order of precedence for the purpose of casting the Member's vote.
2. Meetings
2.1 The Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the American Control Conference. Additional meetings may be called by resolution of the Board, by the President, by the Secretary on demand of two or more officers, and by the Secretary on demand of Directors representing a majority of Sponsoring Members. Meeting notices, including proposed agenda, shall be sent by the Secretary to all Directors and Member Societies not less than 15 days prior to the meeting.
2.2 All meetings of the Board shall be open to guests who are members in good standing of any of the Member Societies, and to other guests invited by the President or the Board of Directors. At its discretion, the Board may hold closed sessions which only officers and Directors representing the Sponsoring Members may attend. Official votes may be taken only during open session.
3. Voting
3.1 The privilege of voting is reserved to each Director representing the Sponsoring Society or his alternate (abbreviated Voting Director). Proxies are not permitted.
3.2 Except as otherwise provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws, approval of motions at a Board of Directors Meeting requires a majority of the Voting Directors.
4. Authority to Act Without Meeting. Any resolution adopted by majority vote (or larger percentage if required by the matter at issue) of the Voting Directors in office after due notice to each Director shall be deemed and considered the act of the Board as though adopted at an actual meeting of the Board, whether or not on the occasion of the vote there was an actual meeting of the Board. The notice and the voting of the Directors may be by mail, telephone, telegraph, or personally, or by any combination of these, and notice by mail or telegraph shall be deemed given when sent to the Director's last mailing address. A record of the notice and of the voting and of the manner in which the action was taken shall be noted in the minutes of the Board of Directors.

Article IV - Officers

1. President. The President shall be the principal Officer of AACC and its spokesman. He shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall have the authority to appoint and remove the Chairs of all committees, and the AACC representatives to other organizations, except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws.
2. Vice President. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President when the President is unable to fulfill them, and other duties assigned to him by the President and Board of Directors.
3. Secretary.
3.1 The Secretary shall be responsible for notifying Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairs of meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall attend all Board meetings, keep minutes of the proceedings, and distribute them to the Board and to the Member Societies.
3.2 He shall maintain a current roster of Member Societies and of their Directors, and of committees and their officers. He shall keep a record of all proceedings and reports relevant to AACC.
3.3 He shall conduct official correspondence with the Member Societies, with IFAC, and with other organizations, and keep a record of such. He shall distribute to the Member Societies letters, reports, and announcements received from foreign countries.
4. Treasurer.
4.1 The Treasurer shall attend all meetings of the Board and of the Finance Committee, and shall keep them informed regarding the financial position of AACC.
4.2 He shall be responsible for the receipt, disbursement, and custody of all AACC monies and financial assets. He shall prepare and submit to the Board of Directors for its approval the annual budget and annual financial statement.
4.3 He shall collect the membership dues and conduct all official correspondence regarding finances with the Member Societies, with IFAC and with others.
5. Past Presidents. All former Presidents shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.
6. Election Procedure
6.1 The President shall appoint the Nominating Committee not later than March 31st of the year in which the terms of office expire. The Nominating Committee shall transmit its nominations to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.
6.2 Elections shall take place at the Annual Meeting or at a subsequent Board Meeting during the same year.
6.3 Vacancies: Should a vacancy occur in one of the offices, the Board of Directors shall elect a successor to serve until the term in question would have expired.
7. Paid Officials. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to hire, or authorize the officers to hire, paid employees. All employment agreements require Board approval.

ARTICLE V - FINANCES

1. Budget
1.1 The budget shall contain an estimate of all income and expenses for the fiscal year, which is identical to the calendar year.
1.2 The annual budget shall be presented to the Board of Directors not later than the last meeting prior to the start of the fiscal year.
1.3 A budget which envisages a deficit in excess of 10% of the unrestricted accumulated surplus of AACC, or which requires a dues increase to achieve a balance, shall be considered adopted only after receipt of approval from a majority of the Sponsoring Societies.
2. Receipts
2.1 The Board of Directors may raise funds through the imposition of dues and assessments on the Member Societies or through other agreed methods such as surcharges on meetings or publications.
2.2 Dues : Membership dues are established by the Board of Directors and remain in effect until they are changed. The amount of dues shall be uniform within each member classification. The Board may provide for fractional dues where membership is not in effect during the full year.
2.3 All dues are payable on the first day of the fiscal year, and become delinquent 60 days thereafter.
3. Disbursements: Upon approval of the budget, the funds shall be considered appropriated, and the Treasurer shall pay bills submitted to him up to the appropriated amount without further approval. The President may approve individual expenditures up to $50 above the budgeted amount provided the budget is not in deficit. All other extra-budget transactions or disbursements, and all transfers of assets into and out of AACC custody, require prior Board approval.
4. Investments : The Treasurer shall deposit all monies belonging to AACC or in its custody in fully-insured bank accounts, or invest them in fully-secured bonds. Other types of investments require prior approval of the Board of Directors.
5. Grants and Contracts : Financial contracts and grants between AACC and outside organizations require approval of a majority of Voting Directors.
6. Activities with Financial Risk : Board approval of any planned AACC activity, function, or project which could lead to a deficit, such as a meeting, publication of a journal, or other open-ended obligation, becomes effective only upon receipt of approval of all Sponsoring Member Societies.
7. Audit and Bonding : The Board of Directors may provide for an independent audit of AACC funds and may require the bonding of AACC officers and agents having access to AACC funds.
8. Annual Report Within 30 days of the close of each fiscal year, the Treasurer shall submit to the Member Societies an annual financial report.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

1. Committee Organization
1.1 The chairman of each committee, except as otherwise provided, shall be appointed by the President and shall be confirmed by the Board of Directors. His term of office shall coincide with that of the President who appoints him, or continues until his successor is appointed. Committee Vice-Chairs are appointed by the same procedure. Any person may serve a maximum of four consecutive years combined as Chair and Vice-Chair of a particular committee.
1.2 Except as otherwise provided, each Sponsoring Society is entitled to appoint at least one person to represent it on each committee and cast its official vote. These representatives are selected by the Society according to its own procedures. The appropriate Director will inform the AACC Secretary and the Committee Chair of all changes in such representation.
1.3 Each Participating Society may designate an official voting representative to the Technical Committees in its field of interest.
1.4 The Committee Chair and the AACC President may appoint additional committee members outside of the official Member Society representatives, except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws.
1.5 Each committee shall determine its own organization, procedures, and sub-committees, and elect its own secretary or other officers. The Committee chairman is responsible for preparing and keeping up-to-date a written guide of committee procedures as part of the Operating Guides adopted in conformity to Article X of the By-Laws.
1.6 Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs are ex-officio members of the Board of Directors, and are expected to attend its meetings.
2. General Committees
2.1 Planning : The Planning Committee shall study the aims, activities, policies, and structure of AACC on a long-range basis. It shall originate, receive, study, and evaluate suggestions submitted for improved operations and new activities, and shall present its recommendations to the Board of Directors.
2.2 Constitution and By-Laws : The Constitution and By-Laws Committee shall study all proposals for changes to the Constitution and By-Laws and shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors as appropriate. This committee will advise the Officers and Directors concerning compliance with the Constitution and By-Laws.
2.3 Admissions : The Admissions Committee shall develop and maintain procedures for orderly consideration of candidates for all classes of membership within AACC. It shall receive, review, and make recommendations on all applications for membership and will submit to the Board of Directors a report on each application. The Committee membership shall consist of Directors or Alternates who are serving or have served in the past.
2.4 Finance : The Finance Committee shall study and evaluate the fiscal management of AACC and make recommendations for fund raising methods and dues level. It shall assist the Treasurer in the annual budget preparation. The Committee membership shall consist of current Directors or Alternates, plus the Treasurer.
2.5 Nominating : The Nominating Committee shall prepare nominations for all elective AACC offices. The committee membership shall consist of past Presidents and others selected by the President to ensure representation by all Sponsoring Member Societies.
2.6 International Relations : The International Relations Committee shall study and evaluate the relationship of AACC with IFAC and other foreign and international organizations, and make appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors. It shall advise the AACC Technical Committee chairmen in their day-to-day contacts with IFAC. The committee shall prepare and keep up-to-date the AACC International Activities Guide.
2.7 Awards : The Awards Committee shall study and recommend the establishment of prizes, awards, and fellowships to be granted by AACC for meritorious contribution to the advancement of the art and science of Automatic Control, for outstanding paper presentations at conferences, for service to the profession, or for memorials. The Awards Committee shall administer the various Award programs as provided in Article VII.
2.8 Technical Meetings: The Technical Meetings Committee shall have the following responsibilities. Review the AACC guidelines for technical meetings annually and recommend whatever modifications are necessary to the Board of Directors. These changes become AACC guidelines when approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Monitor AACC sponsored technical meetings (the ACC and IFAC technical meetings in the U.S.A.) for compliance with AACC guidelines. Review the financial reports of all AACC sponsored technical meetings.
3. Technical Committees
3.1 The Board of Directors, from time to time, may establish Technical Committees appropriate to the objectives of AACC. These committees shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
3.2 Each Technical Committee shall report to the Board of Directors on its activities and future plans. Such reports shall be submitted in writing at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, or at such other times as shall be required by the Board.
4. American Control Conference ACC Committees shall be set up in accordance with Article VIII of these By-Laws.
5. IFAC Technical Meetings Committees Committees to manage IFAC Congresses, Symposia, and Workshops held in the USA shall be established in accordance with Article IX, paragraph 1.0 of these By-Laws and with the AACC International Activities Guide.
6. Ad Hoc and Special Committees The President, with the consent of the Board of Directors, may appoint Special or Ad Hoc committees to facilitate conducting the affairs of AACC. All such committees shall be dissolved no later than the conclusion of the term of office of the appointing President.

ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

1. Awards Administration
2. The Awards Program The Awards Program consists of four types of Honors Awards to be given each year at a plenary session of the ACC.

 

2.1 Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award for distinguished career contributions to the theory or application of automatic control.
2.2 Donald P. Eckman Award for an outstanding young engineer in the field of automatic control.

 

2.3 O. Hugo Schuck Award for the best paper presented at the previous ACC.

 

2.4 Education Award for outstanding contributions to automatic control education in any form.

 

3. The Individual Honors Awards The candidates for these honor awards will be solicited and selected annually by the AACC Awards Committee (see Section 1) based on the following criteria:
3.1 Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award : One individual to be selected from those nominated based on a lifetime career of contributions to the theory or application of control or both.
  • Awardee to be alive at the time of nomination, and to have spent a significant part of his/her career in the USA.
  • Awardee to be strongly encouraged to give a plenary presentation at the ACC Awards Luncheon.
  • The award is to consist of a distinguished medal and an honorarium.
  • This award is to be more distinguished than the others in this program.
  • Reasonable travel expenses, as approved by the AACC, will be reimbursed to the person receiving the award.
3.2 Donald P. Eckman Award (Revised December 21, 1984): One individual to be selected from those outstanding young contributors who are younger than 35 years at the time of the award.

 

  • Contributions may be technical or scientific publications, theses, patents, inventions, or combinations of the above in the field of automatic control made while the nominee was a resident of the USA.
  • Supporting documentation must include a full endorsement by at least one responsible supervisor.
  • The award will consist of a certificate and an honorarium.
3.3 O. Hugo Schuck Award Two awards for the best papers appearing in the Proceedings of and presented at the previous ACC. One award emphasizing contribution to theory, and the other emphasizing significant or innovative applications.

 

  • The papers must have been presented by the awardees.
  • Criteria for selection include the quality of the written and oral presentation, the technical contribution, timeliness, and practicality.
  • Each award will consist of a certificate and an honorarium. In case of multiply-authored papers, a certificate will be issued to each author and the honorarium will be divided among the authors.
3.4 Education Award : One individual to be selected from those nominated for outstanding educational contributions.

 

  • These contributions can be from any source and in any media, i.e., electronic, publications, courses, etc.
  • The award will consist of a certificate and an honorarium.
4. The Annual Awards Luncheon: The Honors Program Awards are to be presented at the Annual ACC Awards Luncheon. The Awards Committee is responsible to see that a suitable Awards Brochure is prepared (see Section 1) for distribution at the luncheon. This brochure will list the awardees.
5. Registration Fees: Registration Fee shall be waived for Award Winners at Conference at which Awards are given.

ARTICLE VIII - AMERICAN CONTROL CONFERENCE

1. The American Control Conference (ACC) is the annual meeting of the automatic control profession in the United States. It is operated by AACC representing its Member Societies, and under their joint financial responsibility. The details of the sharing of responsibilities and risks between AACC and the Members Societies are set forth in Article VIII, Paragraph 6 of these By-Laws.
2. ACC Steering Committee (Revised June 23, 1989)
2.1 The ACC Steering Committee is the planning body for the American Control Conference. It proposes to the Board of Directors the dates and places of the conferences for the following four years, candidates for General and Program Chairs, and the general policies on program composition, financial goals and promotional practices. It recommends for Board approval the fees and budget for each conference. It is responsible for the content of the ACC Operating Manual.
2.2 The ACC Steering Committee will consist of the Vice President, at least three ACC General Chairs (most-recent-past, current, and all future), at least three ACC Program Chairs (most-recent-past, current, and all future), three Directors appointed by the Vice President, and the President (ex-officio). The Vice President will serve as Chair of the ACC Steering Committee. The ACC Steering Committee shall meet at least once a year, prior to the ACC meeting, and present its recommendations at the mid-year (ACC) AACC meeting. All Directors will be invited to attend meetings of the Steering Committee.
2.3 The ACC Steering Committee Chair is appointed and serves in conformity with Article VI paragraph 1.1 of these By-Laws.
2.4 Once appointed, the chairman and members of the ACC Steering Committee function as an AACC committee and not as Society representatives. Actions of the ACC Steering Committee are subject to the approval of the AACC Board of Directors.
3. Committees for Each Individual ACC
3.1 Each specific year's ACC will be run by a General Chair, supported by a Program Chair, a Finance Chair, a Publicity Chair, a Registration Chair, a Local Arrangements Chair and a Publications Chair, and with the assistance of an Operating Committee, a Program Committee and a Local Arrangements Committee. This organization is set up roughly two years ahead of each ACC and disbanded during the year following the ACC; therefore two or three sets of these officers and committees will be active at the same time.
3.2 ACC General Chairs and Program Chairs,
3.2.1 Each year's General Chair and Program Chair are nominated by the Steering Committee and appointed by the Board of Directors not later than two years prior to the scheduled conference time. There is to be a spread in the Society identification of these chairmen each year and over the years. The chairmen do not represent individual Societies; they represent AACC.
3.2.2 The specific year's General Chair is responsible for organizing, budgeting and operating that year's ACC. All agreements which involve a financial commitment have to be signed by him.
3.2.3 The Program Chair is responsible for the development and implementation of the specific year's conference program under the guidance of the Program Committee.
3.3 ACC Finance Chairs.
3.3.1 The Finance Chair is appointed by the General Chair. The Finance Chair will act as the Treasurer of the ACC.
3.3.2 The Finance Chair will prepare the Budget for the Conference, review it with and obtain the approval of the General Chair. He will present the Budget including Fees to the ACC Steering Committee to obtain their recommendation for approval by the Board of Directors. The Finance Chair will present the Budget to the Board for formal approval, and adoption as the Budget for the Conference.
3.3.3 The Finance Chair is authorized to open a checking account with both the Finance Chair and the General Chair as the authorized signature. Such an account will be located near the ultimate Conference location, or in the locale of the Finance Chair.
3.3.4 During the Conference, the counting and deposit of funds in local facilities ( hotel safety deposit box or bank account) shall be done by the Finance and Registration Chairs. Excess cash can be used to pre-pay hotel charges or deposited in the local bank.
3.3.5 Following the Conference, the Finance Chair will prepare a Conference Financial Report which becomes part of the Conference Report filed by the General Chair. After all accounts are closed, the Finance Chair will prepare and file a Closing Financial Report.
3.3.6 The Finance Chair and the General Chair shall be bonded.
3.4 ACC Operating Committees
3.4.1 Each year's Operating Committee consists of that year's Program Chair, Finance Chair, Publications Chair, Publicity Chair, Registration Chair, and Local Arrangements Chair, and others appointed by the General Chair. The ACC General Chair is the Operating Committee Chair.
3.4.2 The members and chairman of the Operating Committee constitute the team which collectively guides and coordinates the principal functions of that year's ACC.
3.5 The ACC Program Committees
3.5.1 The members of a specific year's Program Committee are approved by the Board of Directors on the joint recommendation of the General Chair and the Program Chair.
3.5.2 The Program Committee operates as an AACC Committee and not as a body of Society representatives. Some committee members may not have clear-cut AACC Society involvement. However, the committee membership should include persons with recent, first hand, familiarity with the paper review procedures of the various Societies. The persons responsible for paper review in each Society will have a liaison role to the ACC Program Committee and may be invited to attend certain of its meetings.
3.5.3 The Program Committee has exclusive, ultimate authority for specifying the conference program.
3.5.4 The Program Committee shall prepare the ACC Program in camera ready format in a style specified by the General Chair. Author information shall be recorded in a data base format as agreed to between the ACC General Chair and the AACC Secretary. The Program Committee shall supply the Author Data Base information on a floppy disk to the AACC Secretary on a schedule to meet the Mail Label needs of the Publications and Publicity Chairs. Normally, the AACC Secretary will furnish Mail Labels.
3.6 The Publications, Publicity , Registration and Local Arrangements Chairs
3.6.1 Each year's Publications, Publicity , Registration and Local Arrangements Chairs are appointed by the General Chair of the specific ACC. They should belong to at least one Member Society but may not be on its paid staff.
3.6.2 The Publications Chair is responsible for aiding the General Chair and the Operating Committee in all matters pertaining to printing, shipping and mailing related to the conference publications such as programs, and proceedings. Typical tasks will be to assist in the selection of printers, to collect manuscripts and deliver them to the printer, to monitor the printer's performance and delivery schedule, and to arrange shipments and mailings. (Conference Proceedings will be shipped to the Conference site and to the Proceedings warehouse/sales agent.) The Chair is aided by the members of the Publications Committee.
3.6.3 The Publicity Chair is responsible for preparation and publication of, and reporting outcome of advertising, publicity , and technical journal copy. He shall arrange for the mailing (including Non-Profit Bulk Mail Permits) of Announcements, Calls for Papers, and Conference Brochures. He will secure mailing labels from Member Societies, and from the AACC Secretary.
3.6.4 The Registration Chair is responsible for recording and reporting Registration Data, and for collecting Registration Funds for the Conference and the Conference Workshops. Data shall be logged in a computer Data Base format as agreed to between the ACC General Chair and the AACC Secretary. The original Data Base with basic registration package and instructions shall be provided by the AACC Secretary.
3.6.5 The Local Arrangements Chair is responsible for aiding the Operating Committee and the General Chair in the selection of hotels, transportation, and social and technical visit activities and facilities. He is responsible for arrangements for the registration and financial operations during the conference and for monitoring and trouble shooting the conference operations. He is aided by members of the Local Arrangements Committee. At the discretion of the General Chair, the duties of the Local Arrangements Chair may be divided, for example, a Local Arrangements Chair, and a Social Activities Chair. None of these officials can be paid staff.
3.6.6 All disbursements related to Publications, Publicity, and Local Arrangements must be made by the General Chair or the Finance Chair.
3.7 The Publications, Publicity, Registration and Local Arrangements Committees.
3.7.1 Members (if any) of these Committees are appointed by the General Chair of the specific year's ACC.
3.7.2 Members of these Committees operate under the guidance of their respective Chair to aid him in performing his responsibilities.
4. The Technical Program
4.1 The Technical Program will consist of Plenary Lectures, Invited Lectures and Sessions, and Contributed Papers. The ACC Program Committee has sole responsibility for Plenary Lectures. Invited Lectures and Sessions may be sponsored by the ACC Program Committee, or by an AACC Technical Committee, or by a Society. Contributed papers proposed for ACC by a Society can be put on the conference program at the discretion of the ACC Program Committee; if such a paper is chosen for inclusion in the technical program, the Society has effectively given permission for the use of its name in conjunction with the paper.
4.2 The composition and flavor of the Program should maintain a year to year consistency but not internal uniformity. ACC is to serve the varied interests of the attendees, as a showcase where each Society displays the technical activities and standards in its own field of interest. As a general guide, Societies should contribute papers of sufficient quality to be published in their own referred journal.
4.3 Conference Proceedings: Each ACC will publish a Proceedings consisting of the invited and contributed papers. The Proceedings shall be copyrighted by AACC. The Secretary shall register the Copyright. The copyright for contributed or invited papers shall automatically be released to the contributing society, or the authors if the paper is not submitted by an AACC Member Society.
5. Role of the AACC Headquarters Staff: The AACC Headquarters staff fulfills strictly a supporting role and is not involved in negotiating and decision making. It may provide limited clerical services to ACC if this work can be done at the AACC Headquarters location. The expense of such services shall be charged to ACC upon the authorization of the ACC General Chair.
6. Financial Arrangements
6.1 The Societies jointly take the financial responsibilities for the ACC and share in its profits according to their participation.
6.2 It is not the aim of ACC budgeting to build up substantial reserves for AACC. ACC should, however, provide in part for some of the basic costs of AACC such as headquarters expenses and IFAC dues.
6.3 The basic structure for the disbursement of the ACC receipts is as follows:
6.3.1 After provision for payment of the current year's ACC operating expenses, the current year's AACC Headquarters expenses and a fraction N of the current year's IFAC dues come off the top. The remainder of the receipts is distributed among the Sponsoring Societies as stated in Section 6.3.2.
6.3.2 The remaining surplus (or deficit) is shared among the Societies according to their weighted participation in that year's conference. Society i receives (pays) the following fractional share of the funds to be distributed:

a (M i / M t ) +b (P i /P t ) + c (S i /S t )+ d ( V i / V t )

where
M is the number of members of the society attending the ACC (multiple memberships to be counted for each society).
P is the number of papers contributed by each society.
S is the number of invited sessions contributed by each society.
V is the number of volumes sold by each society to their members.
6.3.3 The values of the fractions N (in 6.3.1) and a,b,c, and d (in 6.3.2) are to be determined by the Board of Directors, and remain in effect until they are changed.
7. Financial Report: The General Chair shall submit to the AACC Board of Directors a financial report, not later than one year after the conference.
8. Post-Conference Sales All copies of the ACC Proceedings left unsold after the conference shall be turned over to the entity responsible for warehousing and sales. After deduction of associated expenses, the sales receipts are distributed each year in accordance with the formula in paragraph 6.3 applicable to the particular ACC, for a period of five years.

Article IX - International Federation Of Automatic Control

1. Technical Meetings. The Board of Directors may authorize AACC sponsorship of IFAC Congresses, Symposia, and Workshops. Operating and financial responsibility for such meetings shall be vested in the AACC. At the request of the organizers of such an IFAC Technical Meeting in the U.S.A., the Board of Directors can waive direct financial involvement in a specific meeting. However, the AACC retains the right of financial oversight. The technical meeting organizers are still required to adhere to AACC operational and financial guidelines. This includes submission of all budgets and financial reports.

 

1.1 All AACC sponsored technical meetings are required to adhere to the most recent edition of the AACC Technical Meetings Organization Manual. The AACC Technical Meetings Organization Manual is based on the IEEE Technical Meetings Organization Manual and the IFAC Procedure for the Organization of IFAC Technical Meetings. It is updated annually by the AACC Technical Meetings Committee. In case of doubt or ambiguity, the AACC Technical Meetings Committee shall decide.

 

2. Committee Representation
2.1 All permanent residents of the United States who serve in IFAC committees and functions are deemed to be representatives of the American Automatic Control to IFAC, provided that their appointments are recommended by the AACC President.

 

2.2 The following IFAC officials, if permanent residents of the USA shall be ex-officio members of the AACC Board of Directors: IFAC Officers and members of the Executive Council, Editors of AUTOMATICA and of other IFAC organs, Chairs and Vice-Chairs of IFAC Committees, Chairs of IFAC Conferences held in the USA. They are expected to attend Board Meetings and keep AACC informed of IFAC plans and activities.

 

2.3 USA members of IFAC Technical and Conference Committees are automatically members of the relevant AACC Technical Committees, and are required to keep these AACC Committees informed of their IFAC activities.

ARTICLE X - OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

1.0 No AACC action or business shall be made public except upon authorization of the Board of Directors or of the officers. All official communications from AACC shall require the approval of an AACC officer.

 

2.0 Each member Society shall designate an office or officer to whom official communications from AACC be addressed, and who will take responsibility for distributing these official communications within his society.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

The Board of Directors may by a vote of two-thirds of the Voting Directors amend the By-Laws, provided that a draft of the proposed amendment has been submitted to each Director at least thirty days before the meeting at which the action is to be taken.

ARTICLE XII - OPERATING GUIDES

The Board of Directors shall cause to be prepared and published an ACC Operating Manual, an International Activities Guide, and an AACC Operating Guide. These documents may incorporate agreements for joint activities as provided in Article I, Paragraph 2.0 of these By-Laws. The adoption of these documents requires the approval of a majority of Voting Directors.

ARTICLE XIII - CONFERENCES

The AACC will not sponsor restricted, unclassified meetings.

INFORMATION: CHANGES/MODIFICATIONS TO BYLAWS

BYLAWS ARTICLE VIII - AMERICAN CONTROL CONFERENCE, Paragraph 6.3.2

Directors at Board Meeting on October 23, 1984 adopted factor values as follows:

N = 1.0
a = b = c = 0.33
d = 0

BYLAWS ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

Directors at Board Meeting on February 27, 1985 adopted Honorarium values as follows:
3.1 Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award. Medal and Honorarium of $500. (Travel expenses as allowed by the By-Laws will be reimbursed.)
3.2 Donald P. Eckman Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $500.
3.3 O. Hugo Schuck Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $500.
3.4 Education Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $500.

BYLAWS ARTICLE XIII - CONFERENCES

Directors at Board Meeting on June 18, 1986 adopted this Amendment to affirm the policy of unrestricted, technical meetings.
The AACC will not sponsor restricted, unclassified meetings.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

Directors at Board Meeting on December 7, 1988 adopted Honorarium values as follows:
3.1 Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award. Medal and Honorarium of $1,000. (Travel expenses as allowed by the By-Laws will be reimbursed.)
3.2 Donald P. Eckman Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $1,000.
3.3 O. Hugo Schuck Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $500.
3.4 Education Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $1,000.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VIII - AMERICAN CONTROL CONFERENCE

Directors at Board Meeting of June 23, 1989 amended Paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. of 2. ACC Steering Committee

BYLAWS ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

Directors at Board Meeting on May 25, 1990 amended Paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3.
Directors at Board Meeting on December 15, 1993 amended Pargraphs 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VIII - AMERICAN CONTROL CONFERENCE

Directors at Board Meeting of May 25, 1990 amended Paragraphs 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.3, and 6.3.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

Directors at Board Meeting of December 16, 1991 added Paragraph 2.8.

BYLAWS ARTICLE IX - IFAC

Directors at Board Meeting of December 16, 1991 amended Paragraph 1.0 and added Paragraph 1.1.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

Directors at Board Meeting on December 15, 1993 amended Pargraphs 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

Directors at Board Meeting on July 3, 1996 amended the honoraria for AACC Awards:
3.1 Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award. Medal and Honorarium of $5,000. (Travel expenses as allowed by the By-Laws will be reimbursed.)
3.2 Donald P. Eckman Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $2,500.
3.3 O. Hugo Schuck Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $1,00.
3.4 Education Award. Certificate and Honorarium of $2,500.

BYLAWS ARTICLE VII - AWARDS

Directors at Board Meeting on June 6, 1997 approved a Control Engineering Practice Award, with an honorarium of $2,500. They also approved renaming the Education Award as the John R. Ragazzini Education Award.

Revised November 20, 1980.
Revised December 14, 1983; effective April 1, 1984.
Revised December 21, 1984.
Revised June 18, 1986.
Revised June 23, 1989.
Revised May 25, 1990.
Revised December 16, 1991.
Revised December 15, 1993
Revised July 3, 1996
Revised June 6, 1997