Bylaws of the Korean Computer Scientists and Engineers Association of America (KOCSEA)
I. General Rules
1. The name of the association is Korean Computer Scientists and Engineers Association in America (KOCSEA).
2. The goal of the association is to contribute to the advances in computer science and information technology in Korea and North America, to promote cooperation between the computer scientists and engineers in Korea and North America, and to promote fellowship among the members.
3. The association pursues its goal in the following ways:
- 1. By providing opportunities for information exchange and collaboration among the members,
- 2. By promoting fellowship and networking among members,
- 3. By cooperating with other science and technology societies, institutes, and companies in Korea and North America,
- 4. By organizing social and technical activities necessary to achieve the goals of the association.
4. The president determines the association’s office location.
5. The association is a not-for-profit organization.
II. Membership
1. The members of the association are categorized as regular members, student members, honorary members, and institutional members. The association determines the eligibility of membership based on the following rules:
- 1. Regular members are Koreans or Korean Americans who reside in North America and work in the field of computer science, information technology, and in the related area including: computer engineering, electrical engineering, and information science. Once a person becomes a regular member, the person stays as a regular member as long as he/she keeps up with all membership duties.
- 2. Student members are undergraduate or graduate students majoring in computer science, information science, or in the related area as listed above, at a school in U.S. or Canada.
- 3. Honorary members are those who have made significant contributions to the association or to advances in computer science, information technology, and in the related area.
- 4. Institutional members are companies, research labs, or public/government institutions that in the field of computer science, information technology, and in the related area located in Korea or in North America.
2. To become regular members, student members, or institutional members, eligible individuals or institutions must submit an application to the association. The membership chair must approve the new membership of individual members. A majority of the staff must approve the application of institutional members.
3. To be eligible for an honorary membership, an applicant needs recommendations from at least two regular members, and approval by two thirds of the staff.
4. Members are obligated to pay membership dues in effect (determined at the staff meeting) each year.
5. Each member has the right to vote. Regular members and honorary members are eligible for election.
III. Staff
1. The permanent staff of the association consists of the president, president-elect (vice president), general secretary, finance staff, editor, membership chair, and auditor. All staff members except the president-elect are appointed by the president and serve during the term of the president. They can be reappointed.
2. The president can appoint other ad-hoc staff to execute appropriate activities of the association.
3. The president appoints an election committee, consisting of three regular members, to perform the tasks related to election of the next president-elect. The election should be held before the current president’s term ends. The current president-elect becomes the president on January first of calendar year unless rule III.5 is in effect.
4. The election committee recommends at least one candidate to be the next president-elect, and the president makes a public announcement for the election. The one who receives the majority vote is elected to be the next president-elect. If two or more candidates receive the same number of votes, one of them is selected by majority at the election committee and staff meeting. In case there is only one candidate, the candidate must receive majority of the vote. There shall be a reelection if no one receives a majority vote.
5. The president can continue for at most one additional consecutive term by receiving the consent of the president-elect and two thirds of the permanent staff. This must be further ratified by a majority vote of the eligible members before the term expires.
6. The president represents the association, oversees all the business, presides over all the meetings, and provides a report of the year’s activity to all members at the end of the year.
7. The president-elect (vice president) supports the president and, when assigned by the president, serves as a substitute for the president. In the case of the president’s absence or resignation, the president-elect assumes the duties of the president for the remainder of the term.
8. The general secretary is responsible for maintaining the minutes of the meetings and documents of the association and for the activities not assigned to other staff.
9. The finance staff is responsible for maintaining the finances and accounting of the association.
10. The editorial staff is responsible for the publication of newsletters and other materials.
11. The membership chair approves new members, and maintains the membership directory.
12. The auditor audits the accounts of the association and reports at the staff meeting.
13. When necessary, the president can form a subcommittee and assign the chairperson of the subcommittee.
14. The advisory board, reporting to the president, consists of previous presidents and those inducted by the unanimous consent of the president, permanent staff and the board.
IV. Miscellaneous
1. When necessary, the president calls staff meetings to discuss operation of the association.
2. The presence of more than half of the staff is necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum of staff meetings.
3. The association is financed by the membership fee, income from various projects and activities, and donations.
4. The revision of the association’s rules can be initiated by a written request with signatures of more than 15 regular members. The revised rules must be approved by receiving more than two thirds of the mailed member votes.
5. The words, “meeting, vote, mail, etc.” in the bylaws include actions conducted through e-mails, as appropriate.