CONCAM Rules of Operation

August 1999

I. Activities

The Committee's primary activity is the organization of symposia related to topics of interest in the computational mechanics community. Proposals to organize a Committee sponsored symposium can be made by any Committee member (member = Member and Friend). Such proposals should be distributed to the Committee membership by the organizers at least two years prior to the date of the proposed symposium. The prioritizing of competing or conflicting symposia proposals is the responsibility of the Committee Chair.

The Committee also seeks to establish the recognition of individuals in the computational mechanics community through the nomination of individuals for various honors and awards. To focus the Committee's efforts for this activity, the Committee has established a standing subcommittee, viz. the Honors Subcommittee, which is chaired by the CONCAM Vice Chair. The activities of this sub-committee are reported to the Committee as a regular agenda item at Committee meetings.

II. Meetings

The Committee should meet twice a year at a time and place to be announced by the CONCAM Chair. Minutes of the meetings should be distributed to all members.

III. Communication

In addition to the twice annual Committee meetings, CONCAM maintains an email distribution list concam@usacm.org that serves to inform members of Committee activities. Committee information is only distributed via this electronic means, i.e. no hard copy mailings are provided.

The Committee intends to maintain a web page ASME Committee ON Computing in Applied Mechanics (CONCAM) with links to a Committee membership contact-information list and other Committee related information.

IV. General Members

CONCAM currently has two designations for people interested in CONCAM activities:

  1. Members - individuals that are actively involved in CONCAM,
  2. Friends - individuals that are interested in CONCAM, but are not currently active.

The list of Members and Friends is updated annually by consensus of the CONCAM Chair and Vice Chair.

To join CONCAM usually requires attending at least two Committee meetings with in a two year period and the expression of interest to participate in Committee activities. Individuals are included as Friends of the Committee after being nominated, their nomination seconded, and approved by acclamation of those in attendance.

V. Committee Chair

  • Term: The Committee Chair serves a two year term starting at the end of the summer meeting in odd numbered years.
  • Election: The Committee Chair is filled by succession. The Committee's Vice Chair becomes the Chair.
  • Duties:
    1. The Chair is responsible for calling Committee meetings, setting their agenda, and presiding over the meetings.
    2. The Chair approves and distributes the minutes of the meeting.
    3. The Chair is responsible for all communication with the Applied Mechanics Division (AMD) Executive Committee (ExeCom), especially the coordination of symposia.

VI. Committee Vice Chair

  • Term: The Committee Vice Chair serves a two year term starting at the end of the summer meeting in odd numbered years. At the end of this term the Vice Chair then becomes the Committee Chair for an additional two years.
  • Election: A new Vice Chair is elected by a majority of voting Committee members. This election is conducted by the outgoing Vice Chair by distributing to the Committee membership a Vice Chair ballot, collecting the votes, and announcing the Vice Chair elect. Nominations for Vice Chair are solicited at the time of the winter meeting in even numbered years. Nominations must be seconded and those nominated must be willing to server as Vice Chair and Chair (total of 4 years) before their name can be included on the ballot.
  • Duties:
    1. Conduct the election of the new Vice Chair.
    2. Preside over the activities of the CONCAM Honors Sub-committee.
    3. Responsible for the recording of the Committee's meeting minutes.
    4. Responsible for maintaining a distribution list of Committee members.
    5. Responsible for coordination of all symposia to be held during the Vice Chair's eventual term as Chair. Since proposals for Committee sponsored symposia originate two years prior to the date of the symposia, the Vice Chair starts, and maintains, responsibility for all symposia to be held during the Vice Chair eventual two year term of service as Committee Chair.