CHARTER of the East Tennessee Chapter Health Physics Society
ESTABLISHED OCTOBER 26, 1960
Article I
Section 1. The name of the Chapter shall be the East Tennessee Chapter (hereinafter designated as
the Chapter) of the Health Physics Society (hereinafter designated as the Society).
Article II
Section 1. The Chapter Headquarters shall be located in the vicinity of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and
the Chapter membership is not limited to a specific geographic area.
Article III
Section 1. The objectives and purposes of the Chapter shall coincide with the objectives and
purposes of the Society as set out in the BYLAWS of the Society.
Article IV
Chapter-Society Relationship
Section 1. The Chapter operates in affiliation with the Society. It is governed by the provisions of its
CHARTER, BYLAWS, and RULES. The Chapter-Society relationship shall not be placed in jeopardy so
long as (i) the Chapter complies with the provisions of its Charter as augmented by those parts of the
Bylaws of the Society which deal with the Chapter-Society relationship, and (ii) the Society fulfills its
stated objectives maintaining a balance as to the mutual interests of the two.
Section 2. The Charter shall be placed in the custody of the Chapter with a duplicate copy kept on
file at the business office of the Society. The signatures of the duly authorized officers of the Chapter and
the Society affixed at the time of chartering and appearing on the Charter over the seal of the Society
signify the Chapter-Society relationship in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.
Section 3. Any conflict requiring an interpretation of the provisions of the Charter shall be resolved
by the Board of Directors of the Society.
Section 4. The responsibility for determining Chapter policy is set out in the BYLAWS of the
Chapter. The Chapter may designate spokesmen to represent the Chapter in carrying out such policies BUT
no person shall presume to speak for the Chapter or the Society on matters of Chapter policy or Society
policy without appropriate authorization. However, these provisions shall not be construed so as to limit a
member of a Chapter from expressing his personal views either publicly or privately.
Section 5. The Chapter shall submit to the business office of the Society, and in a form approved by
the society, regular reports concerning the activities of the Chapter.
Section 6. The Chapter may be dissolved and its Charter revoked by the Board of Directors of the
Society for good cause shown in accordance with the RULES of the Society.
Article V
Membership
Section 1. Members of the Chapter shall be persons who are members of the Society and such other
persons as may be provided for in the BYLAWS of the Chapter.
Section 2. Any person who is a member of the Society becomes a member of the Chapter upon
presenting proof of membership in the Society and the payment of dues appropriate to the membership
class sought in the Chapter.
Section 3. Applications for membership in the Chapter involving persons who are not members of
the Society shall be processed in accordance with procedures set out in the BYLAWS of the Chapter.
Section 4. Membership dues for all grades of membership within the Chapter shall be established in
accordance with provisions set out in the BYLAWS of the Chapter.
Article VI
Administration
Section 1. The Chapter shall have Officers. The Officers administer the affairs of the Chapter in
accordance with its objectives, performing those functions as may be customary to the office, and as further
defined in the BYLAWS or RULES of the Chapter.
Section 2. The Officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a President-Elect, and such others as
may be provided for in the BYLAWS of the Chapter.
Section 3. The President and the President-Elect of the Chapter shall be persons who have
membership in the Society.
Section 4. The President-Elect shall be chosen by vote of the Membership for a Chapter Term at the
conclusion of which his ascension to the office of President for the next Chapter Term becomes automatic.
Section 5. The BYLAWS of the Chapter may vest control over the affairs of the Chapter in a board
of directors, executive council, or some other type of governing body. Where such is provided: the
Officers of the Chapter are exofficio members of the designated governing body with voting rights and
privileges accorded any other member of that body.
Section 6. The BYLAWS of the Chapter shall provide for the establishment of committees and
other administrative posts as may be considered essential for the administration of the affairs of the
Chapter.
Section 7. Vacancies occurring in an elective office or an appointive post shall be filled in
accordance with provisions set out in the BYLAWS of the Chapter.
Section 8. The Chapter Term shall not exceed thirty-six (36) calendar months. In the event of war or
other catastrophe, the Chapter Term may be extended in accordance with the RULES of the Society.
Article VII
Election Procedures
Section 1. Nominations for all elective offices that are to be filled by a poll of the membership of
the Chapter shall be made by a Nominating Committee consisting of a chairman and at least two other
members chosen in accordance with the procedures et out in the BYLAWS of the Chapter. No officer or
member of the governing body shall be eligible to serve on this committee.
Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall select two nominees for each elective office to be filled
and no person shall have his name placed in nominating by the Nominating Committee without his consent.
Section 3. The polling of the membership shall be done by secret ballot with provisions for write-in
candidates. The procedure may be (i) by means of a letter ballot, (ii) by sealed written ballots collected at a
regular Chapter meeting or (iii) by electronic ballots. Other matters governing polling procedures shall be
set out in the BYLAWS of the Chapter.
Article VIII
Meetings
Section 1. The Chapter shall hold at least two meeting each calendar year and one meeting shall be
designated as the Annual Meeting of the Chapter. Meetings of the Chapter shall be held at such time and
place as may be provided for in the BYLAWS or RULES of the Chapter.
Article IX
Chapter BYLAWS and RULES
Section 1. The BYLAWS of the Chapter shall be adopted by the voting membership of the Chapter
before they become effective. A BYLAW is adopted, rejected, or amended on the basis of a majority of the
votes cast on the issue designated in a particular poll.
Section 2. RULES for handling administrative matters may be promulgated by the Officers and/or
governing body of the Chapter if, and as, provided for in the BYLAWS.
Article X
Amendments to the Charter
Section 1. Amendments to the Charter are made by the Board of Directors of the Society.
Article XI
Attestations
Section 1. The Society shall provide the Chapter with (i) a CERTIFICATE OF AFFILIATION
plaque and (ii) a CHAPTER BANNER which bears the NAME OF THE CHAPTER along with the
OFFICIAL SEAL of the Society. Either of the two emblems, when properly displayed, shall be construed
as evidence that the Chapter-Society affiliation relationship is in effect.
Section 2. The Chapter may use the OFFICIAL SEAL of the Society, in part, modified, or in the
whole, on Chapter stationery, and/or for other legitimate purposes so long as the use of the seal is such as to
guarantee that an observer will recognize that he is dealing with the Chapter and not the Society.
Section 3. The East Tennessee Chapter of the Health Physics society was duly authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Society to function as a Chapter of the Society in accordance with the provisions
of a charter issued initially on the 26th day of October, 1960. Other revisions to the charter were adopted
March 19, 1964. Copies of charter issued previously are on file at the business office of the Society. This
charter was issued by the Society and adopted by the Chapter effective with the 1st day of December, 1973,
as witnessed by the signatures below: (Copies of signatures are on file with the Chapter Secretary.)