Constitution of ASMO UK

At the First World Congress of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization held in Goslar, Germany in 1995, a group of British participants discussed an idea of organising a British offshoot of ISSMO which would be serving the needs of industry and academia related to structural and multidisciplinary optimization in the UK. This was endorsed by the General Meeting of ISSMO at the Congress. At the Second World Congress held in Zakopane, Poland in 1997, it was decided to take further steps towards organisation of the group. ASMO UK - Association for Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization in the UK - was suggested as the name of the group.

1. Objectives

Following the objectives of the parent organization, the objectives of the Association for Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization in the UK are:

1. to stimulate and promote research into all aspects of the optimal design of structures and related topics, including engineering systems consisting partially of structures;
2. to encourage practical applications of optimization methods and the corresponding software development in all branches of technology;
3. to foster the interchange of ideas amongst various fields contributing to structural optimization;
4. to support the role of optimization in multidisciplinary design;
5. to provide a framework for the organization of meetings, forums and other means for the dissemination of knowledge on structural optimization; and
6. to promote teaching of structural optimization in tertiary institutions.

A structure is defined as any system that consists at least partially of solids and is subject to stresses and deformations.

2. Membership

Membership is granted on the basis of activity and (or) interest in the field of Structural or Multidisciplinary Optimization. Membership requires participation in activities of ASMO UK or ISSMO.

Undergraduate students, interested in activities of ASMO UK, can apply for Student Membership which is granted upon recommendation of one of the Members.

3. Executive Committee (EC)

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, the Secretary and up to six other members, which include the Past-Chairman and Past-Secretary. The Executive Committee is to be elected for up to four years at a General Meeting. Any member of the Society can be nominated for the Executive Committee. Responsibilities of the Executive Committee include:

1. sponsoring meetings and conferences;
2. sponsoring publications of the Association which may include one or several journals;
3. arranging affiliation of the Association with other scientific and professional organizations;
4. appointing other committees.

4. Conferences of ASMO UK

The Association is to organize a conference normally every year or at intervals decided by the Executive Committee. The organization of each British Conference is carried out by the Committees appointed by the Executive Committee.

5. General Meeting (GM)

A General Meeting shall be held every two years and must be announced at least three months before the first day of such a Meeting. Whenever possible, General Meetings should be held in conjunction with a British Conference. All individual Members may attend the General Meetings.

6. Voting

Each Individual Member of the Association and each delegate representing an Institutional Member attending a General Meeting has one vote in the election of the Executive Committee and in all other matters of broad concern to the Association. The quorum consists of at least twenty members.

7. Finances

The Executive Committee may introduce annual membership fees subject to resolutions at General Meetings. A part of registration fees for British Conferences may be used to cover expenses of the Association.

8. Change of Constitution

This constitution can be amended at a General Meeting by a two third majority of the members voting.

STATUTES

1. Executive Committee (EC)

The Executive Committee is to meet at least once annually and is to comply with all decisions at General Meetings. All important decisions between meetings must be approved by the Executive Committee by postal ballot.

2. Functions of Various Officers

The text of all circulars sent to Members or Committee Members must be approved by the Chairman, who also supervises th day-to-day activities of the Secretary and chairs all General Meetings as well as meetings of the Executive Committee. All ballot papers are to be received and evaluated by the Chairman, who also is to receive all complaints and suggestions from members via the Secretary.

Day-to-day administration of the Association, including all correspondence with Members and Committee Members, preparing minutes of meetings, presentation of a report at General Meetings.

To look after all financial matters of the Association, including collection of membership fees, setting up bank accounts and handling registration fees for meetings.

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