CONSTITUTION OF THE MIDWEST REGION OF THE DECISION SCIENCES INSTITUTE

ARTICLE I -- NAME

            The name of this organization shall be the “Midwest Region of the Decision Sciences Institute,” hereinafter referred to as “Midwest Decision Sciences Institute.”  Midwest Decision Sciences Institute is a region of the Decision Sciences Institute.

ARTICLE II -- GOALS AND PROCEDURES

            The goal of the Midwest Region is to support the goals and objectives of the Decision Sciences Institute.  The operations and procedures of the Midwest Region shall be in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Decision Sciences Institute.  It will seek to serve those members of the Institute in the Midwest Region and to extend the benefits of participation in the Institute to all individuals and schools in the midwest.

ARTICLE III -- MEMBERSHIP

1.                 Eligibility.  Any person or institution who is a member of the Institute is eligible for membership.

2.         Voting Privileges.  The right to vote, to sign referendums, to initiate petitions and hold office and to sign nominating petitions are reserved to members of the Midwest Region in good standing.  This shall be interpreted to mean current members of the Institute who have registered for and attended at least one Midwest annual meeting within the past three years and/or who have designated membership in the Midwest Region when paying their dues to the Institute.

ARTICLE IV -- DUES AND MEMBERSHIP YEARS

            Dues, if any, will be established in accordance with the Institute’s Constitution and Bylaws.

            The membership year is specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE V -- SEVERANCE AND REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP

            Severance and reinstatement procedures shall be consistent with the Institute’s Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI --OFFICERS

1.         Officers.  Officers of the region are specified in the Bylaws.  Only members of the Midwest Region may be nominated for or hold office.  Eligibility to hold office shall be defined in the same way as eligibility to vote.  See Article III, paragraph 2.

2.                  Terms of office.  The terms of office are specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII -- MIDWEST REGIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

            1.         Composition.  The composition of the Midwest Regional Executive Board is specified in the Bylaws.

            2.         Duties.  The Midwest Regional Executive Board shall be the chief policy making and legislative body of the Midwest Region, subject to referendum of the Midwest membership.  It shall establish objective, policies and plans, authorize the formation of committees, subdivisions and other bodies, establish budgets and take other actions necessary for implementation of the objectives of the Midwest Region.

            3.         All actions of the Midwest Regional Executive Board must be consistent with the Institute’s Constitution and Bylaws.  Minutes of the Midwest Regional Executive Board meetings shall be submitted to the Institute’s Board of Directors by the Regional Secretary within two weeks.

ARTICLE VIII-- NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

            The nomination and election procedures are specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX -- MEETINGS

            1.         Annual General Meeting.  There shall be at least one general business meeting of the Midwest Region each year open to all members held in connection with a professional meeting of Midwest.  All members shall be notified in writing as to time and place of the annual general meeting at least 30 days before said meting, and the meeting shall be scheduled at a time convenient to a majority of the individuals attending the professional meeting.

            2.         Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Midwest Region may be called by the Midwest Regional Executive Board as required.  Each member of the region shall be notified in writing of the purpose of any special meeting at least 30 days in advance of any special meeting.

            3.         Quorum.  At any annual or special meeting of the Midwest Region, the members in good standing present shall constitute a quorum.

            4.         Procedure.  All questions of parliamentary procedure shall be first settled by referring to the Constitution and Bylaws and then to the most current published edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE X -- CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION

            1.         No article shall be added to this Constitution and no part shall be amended or annulled except by formal notification, discussion and written ballot approval.  Formal notification shall take place by mail or through appropriate publications of the Institute at least 30 days prior to the annual business meetings at which the vote is to be taken.  Members shall be informed of the reasons for and against the proposed change.  Approval of changes requires a two-thirds affirmative vote of those members in good standing who submit written ballots at the annual business meeting or whose mail ballots have been received prior to that meeting.  All changes in the constitution of the Midwest Region must be approved by the Institute’s Board of Directors before taking effect.

            2.         Proposals of change may be made by the Midwest Regional Executive Board or by petition to the President that is signed by at least five percent of the individuals who have been members of the Midwest Region for a period of at least 30 days prior to signing the petition.

ARTICLE XI-- BYLAWS

            1.         Bylaws may be adopted, annulled or amended by a majority vote of the members present at the annual business meeting provided that the membership has been notified of the proposed action in writing or through an appropriate publication of the Institute at least 30 days prior to the meeting.

            2.         All changes in the Bylaws must be approved by the Institute’s Board of Directors before taking effect.

ARTICLE XII -- REFERENDA

            Upon its initiative, or upon the request in writing of five percent of the members of the Midwest Region in good standing, the Executive Board of the Midwest Region shall submit a question to the Midwest Regional members for a mail referendum vote; the ballot for such a vote shall be accompanied by briefs stating both sides of the question.

ARTICLE XIII -- FINANCES

            Organizational records for the Midwest Region will be kept by both the region and the Home Office.  Any revenues or expenses shall be handled as directed by the Home Office and appropriate records kept.  Budgetary actions of the Midwest Region are subject to review by the Institute’s Board of Directors for consistency with overall goals, policies, and legal requirements of the Institute.

ARTICLE XIV -- DATE OF APOTION

            This Constitution will take effect upon approval by the Institute’s Board of Directors.