AAPS BYLAWS Draft 3.2

Bylaws of the Academy for the Advancement of Postmaterialist Sciences (AAPS) organized in Arizona, USA, under section 501 (c) 3 of the internal revenue code of 1954 as a charitable nonprofit corporation.

Article I. Name
The name of the Academy shall be The Academy for the Advancement of Postmaterialist Sciences. Within the sciences, per se, we include philosophy of science as well as conventional material, behavioral and social sciences. We define postmaterialist sciences as an expansion of materialist sciences to include inquiry into questions that view consciousness as being fundamental or primary in the universe. The academy will be incorporated as a nonprofit organization, qualified for exemption under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Article II. Purpose
The purposes of the AAPS are as follows:

1. To encourage both individual and cultural transformation through research about postmaterialist consciousness combining and integrating perspectives that come from looking out into the world (third person), perspectives that come from looking into the self (first person), and perspectives that are interpersonal  second person) through educational outreach involving a worldwide learning community. The goal is the realization of a worldview that supports a new relationship with the natural world, which includes an expanded definition of natural law to include the realms of life, consciousness and meaning.

2. To provide a supportive professional organization for scientists, students, and science-minded professionals, who wish to understand and contribute to postmaterialist science in their respective disciplines and fields.

3. To rigorously and creatively advance theory, research, and applications of postmaterialist sciences in all domains by promoting truth-seeking inquiry. This would include development and advancement of pedagogy at all levels from K-12 through university that cultivates inquiry and knowing that incorporate a postmaterial perspective.

4. To be proactive in bringing current and future postmaterialist knowledge to mainstream and frontier scientific organizations as well as the media in a responsible and open-minded fashion.

5. To boldly explore all aspects of human consciousness and reality in the spirit of intellectual freedom.

The specific work of the AAPS includes the following:

Encouragement of participation in research and publication of articles about shifting worldviews as a result of awareness of the significance of consciousness as a more universal phenomenon. Communication of research findings at meetings, both sponsored and co-sponsored, and through publications both electronic and in print.

Article III. Membership.
The board of directors will appoint a membership committee, which shall determine membership in the following categories:

Section 1. Members. The Academy shall consist of six classes of members: Fellows, Full Members, Student Members, Associate Members and Affiliate Members.
Section 2. Fellows. Fellows will be scientists with distinguished careers (by invitation only).
Section 3. Full Members. Normally persons with PhDs, MDs, other doctoral degrees, and independent scientists engaged in materialist and / or postmaterialist sciences.
Section 4. Student Members. Students enrolled in PhD and MD programs interested in careers contributing to the evolution of postmaterialist science.
Section 5. Affiliate Members. Persons interested in the Academy’s objectives but not eligible for any other type of membership may be appointed to Affiliate Membership.
Section 6. Honorary Members. Persons who has made “distinctive contributions” to postmaterialist studies, or other pursuits allied with and beneficial to the Academy’s mission.
Section 7. Emeritus Members. A former full member, who has retired.
Section 8. Dues and Assessments. The Board shall set annual dues and special assessments to the Members according to the needs of the Academy. Honorary and Emeritus Members shall not be billed for annual dues or other assessments.

Article IV. Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The Academy membership shall meet annually at a place and time designated by the Board of Directors. The Board may also call special meetings of the membership.
Section 2. Notice of Meetings. The Board of Directors shall notify members of Annual Meetings and special meetings of the membership as a whole, indicating the place and time of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose for which the meeting is called. Such notice of special meetings shall be distributed not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting. Notice of the Annual Meeting is to be given no later than the prior Annual Meeting.

Article V. Officers
Section 1. Board of Directors. A. Powers and Duties. The Board of Directors is the governing body and ultimate authority of the Academy including having all powers and duties required to be exercised by the Board of Directors by any federal, state or district law governing the Corporation. B. Number, Selection and Tenure. The Board will consist of eleven Directors from whom will be elected a president, president-elect, secretary and treasurer for two year (president) or three year (secretary/treasurer) terms. To ensure continuity of mission and goals, the president-elect will assume the role of president after the completion of the president’s two-year term.
Section 2. The Presidential Officers. The President shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and Special Meetings of the Academy, shall be responsible for executing policies determined by the Board, shall act as spokesperson for the Academy, and shall see that all Orders and Resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The Past President and the President-Elect shall assist the President, shall be members of the Board, and shall substitute for the President
when necessary. The Past President shall take precedence over the President-Elect in substituting for the President. The ideal is for the President for each term to be from a different discipline of the sciences. The same discipline will not be represented for more than two successive terms.
Section 3. Election and Succession of Presidential Officers. The President-Elect shall be elected annually for a period of two years by a vote of eligible members of the Academy. Election shall be by simple plurality of votes received from Fellows, Regular and Emeritus Members. The President-Elect shall assume office at the mid-point of the Annual Meeting that follows the election. At the same time, the previous President-Elect shall become President and the previous President shall become Past President.
Section 4. The Secretary and Secretary-Elect. The Secretary shall assist the President and shall be responsible for the minutes of all meetings of the Board and special meetings. A Secretary-Elect shall be elected every three years (with one year of overlap with the current secretary) and shall serve a term of three years, the first year in the capacity of Secretary-Elect, overlapping with the Secretary, and the second two years as Secretary. The Secretary-Elect shall be elected by means of the same ballot as the President-Elect and by a plurality of votes cast. The Secretary-Elect shall assume office at the mid-point of the Annual Meeting following his/her election. The Secretary-Elect shall assist the Secretary and shall substitute for the Secretary when necessary. The Secretary shall substitute for the President if neither the Past President nor President-Elect can serve.
Section 4. The Treasurer, Treasurer-Elect, and Past Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing all moneys and valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Academy, and for overseeing full and accurate accounting of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Academy. The Treasurer shall render to the President and Board at its regular meetings, or when the Board so requires, an account of the financial transactions and status of the Academy. The Treasurer shall serve as Chairperson of the Finance Committee. The Treasurer-Elect shall assist the Treasurer and shall substitute for the Treasurer when necessary. A Treasurer-Elect shall serve a term of three years, the first in the capacity of Treasurer-Elect, overlapping with the Treasurer, the second two years as Treasurer. Election shall take place on the same ballot as President-Elect and shall be on the basis of a plurality of votes cast. The Treasurer-Elect shall assume office at the mid-point of the Annual Meeting following his/her election.

Article VI. Board of Directors
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Academy’s affairs shall be conducted through a Board of Directors consisting of 11 elected members including the President, President-Elect, Past President, Treasurer, and Secretary. All members of the Board shall be entitled to one vote each.
Section 2. Quorum. A quorum of the Board shall consist of greater than 50 percent of the total number of Board members serving.
Section 3. Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet at the Annual Meeting and at other times and places as is deemed necessary. Meetings may be conducted in person or by telephone or other form of communication. The Board may also conduct business by mail or email but in such cases any vote must be unanimous of all voting members of the Board.
Section 4. Election of Board Members. Board Members shall be elected for four-year terms. An election will be held each year to fill vacating terms. Board Members are required to be Regular or Emeritus Members of the Academy in good standing.

Article VII. Executive Director and Academy Office
Section 1. Executive Director. The Board of Directors shall be empowered to appoint and compensate an Executive Director. The Board or its designees from the Board shall review the Executive Director’s performance on an annual basis.
Section 2. Managerial Duties. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the management of the Academy Office and staff of the Academy as specified in the Policies of Academy Management, under the general supervision of the Board and the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Electoral Duties. The Executive Director shall be responsible for distributing or providing ballots, and the President shall formally accept the ballot totals following tabulation by an equitable accounting process. Ballots shall be retained and available for examination by the membership for six months after each election.

Article VIII. Chapters
Section 1. Formation and function. As part of its aim to promote research activities and contacts among scientists with specialized knowledge in different fields of learning, the Academy shall encourage the formation of regional Chapters. Chapters may be chartered by the Board as defined in the Resolutions to Bylaws. All Chapters will have an obligation to promote, at the local level, the general objectives of the Academy, including its goals of interdisciplinary contacts among research workers interested in postmaterialist sciences and education of the general public and future scientists in this area.

Article IX. Committees
Section 1. Formation. The Board may appoint committees to act for the Board for special purposes, designating their duties and powers in the resolution of appointment. Such resolution must be adopted by a majority vote of the members of the Board. The Board may also appoint or designate members of the Academy to serve as ex officio members of standing committees as deemed appropriate. This action must also be adopted by a majority vote.
Section 2. Standing Committees. Standing Committees shall include but are not limited to the following Committees: Executive, Finance, Nominating, Program, and Scientific Publications. With the exception of roles of elected officers specified below, members and chairpersons of Standing Committees are approved by the Board. All Standing Committees shall submit to the President, in advance of the Annual Meeting, a written report of their activities and proposals. Members of most Standing Committees shall be appointed for a three-year term, and may be reappointed for additional terms. Members of the Finance Committee will serve a five-year term.

A. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, consisting of the President, Past President, and President-Elect, shall make decisions as to the suitability of any use of the Academy’s name by Committee Chairpersons, Officers, and Board Members in any publication or public address. Subject to applicable provisions of law, the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws and to the direction and continuing oversight of Board, the Executive Committee shall be authorized by the Board to act on its behalf, between meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee shall report its routine actions to the Board either directly or via the Executive Director on a regular basis. Issues relating to major policy changes, major financial changes, and major disputes shall always be referred to the Board for due consideration and action.

B. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee, composed of the Treasurer as Chairperson, three or more members, Treasurer-Elect, and Past Treasurer, ex officio, shall advise the Board respecting the annual budget, the management of Academy bank accounts, and other financial matters. The Finance Committee, in cooperation with the Board, shall advise the Investment Committee regarding the Investment Policy in the context of the Academy’s overall budget and long-term financial vision.

C. Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees shall be composed of six or more members, who will be appointed by the Board from the general membership. The Secretary of the Academy will serve as Chair of the Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees will recommend the members of the Program and Finance Committees and the members and chairs of the Scientific Publications Committee and the Business Committees of the Academy, following solicitation of suggestions of candidates from Committees, Chapters and the general membership and guidance from the Board, if desired. In addition, members of the Committee on Committees will serve on the Nominating Committee to solicit suggestions of candidates from the committees, the chapters and the general membership and to prepare slates of candidates for the elected offices of the Academy.

D. Program Committee. The Program Committee shall be responsible for the preparation of the program for the Annual Meeting and for any special scientific sessions sponsored and authorized by the Board. Substantial change in practice or policy, especially matters affecting financial liability, public relations, or relations with other societies, must be approved by the Board.

E. Scientific Publications Committee. The Scientific Publications Committee shall recommend to the Board activities appropriate for the Academy in respect to communication among scientists via journals and other modes of communication, and with the approval of the Board, carry out or supervise such activities.

Section 3. Business Committees. The Business Committees shall transact other business for the Board. Members and chairpersons of these committees are appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the Committee on Committees. All these Committees shall submit to the President, in advance of the Annual Meeting, a written report of their activities and proposals.

Article X. Publications
Section 1. Publications. The Academy shall have as its official publication The Journal of Postmaterialist Sciences and any other journals and publications sanctioned by the Board.

Article XI. Fiscal Year
Section 1. Period. The fiscal year of the Academy shall commence on the 1st day of July and end on the 30th day of the following June.
Section 2. Treasurer’s Report. A report of the fiscal state of the Academy shall be made by the Treasurer at the Annual Meeting and whenever requested by the Board.

Article XII. Amendments
Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by majority of the Board, or by a written proposal signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the voting membership. Thereafter, the Bylaws may be amended by a simple majority of votes cast by the voting membership.

Article XIII. Dissolutions
In the event of the dissolution or termination of the Academy, title to and possession of all the property of the incorporated Academy shall pass forthwith to such organization or organizations qualified for exemption under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, that in the opinion of the Board is or are best fitted to carry on the purpose of the Academy for the Advancement of Postmaterialist Sciences.