SATA Constitution

Table of Contents

1.0  Introduction
2.0  Objectives
3.0  Organization

3.1  Officers
3.2  Election of Officers
3.3  Duties of Officers
3.4  Voting
3.5  Meetings
3.6  Membership
3.7  Secretariat

4.0  Policy

1.0   Introduction

The Subsonic Aerodynamic Testing Association was formed in March 1965 to provide an organization for operators of low speed aerodynamic test facilities.

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2.0   Objectives

The broad objective of the organization is: "To provide at the operational level a means of interchange of ideas, techniques, and solutions of problems." The general area of interest will include, but not be limited to:

1. Design, performance, and economics of test facilities.
2. Physical measurements, instrumentation, and handling and reduction of data.
3. Facility operation and maintenance.

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3.0   Organization

3.1   Officers

The officers shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and a Recording Secretary.

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3.2   Election of Officers

Officers shall be elected bi-annually at the regular spring meeting (odd-numbered year). Incumbent officers are ineligible for renomination to the same office. Nomination of officers may be closed when one of more names have been entered for each office. Nomination of officers will be closed by a motion carried by a majority vote. Officers shall be elected in a secret ballot by a simple majority, with each member facility having one vote. Newly elected officers shall take over their duties one month after their election. It shall be the responsibility of outgoing officers to complete current business, including the Secretary's reporting of minutes to the membership and any other matters requiring early action, and to further advise incoming officers of all matters requiring their future attention.

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3.3   Duties of Officers

1. The Chairman shall:
1. Prepare an agenda for and preside over the business meeting.
2. Handle official correspondence, including invitation of guests and applicants.
3. Appoint committees, including tenure thereof.
2. The Vice Chairman shall participate, as required or directed by the Chairman, and act for the Chairman in his absence.
3. The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of the business meetings, and in cooperation with the Host provide members with copies of same.

3.4   Voting

1. Voting on all matters, including revisions to the Constitution, shall be based on a simple majority with each member facility having one vote.

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3.5   Meetings

1. RegULar meetings shall be held annually on a rotating basis at one or more of the member facilities; however, the Chairman shall have the right to call additional meetings at any time when, in his opinion, there appears to be sufficient interest by the membership to justify assemblage.
2. The host facility shall select for each meeting a program based upon the objectives outlined in Paragraph 2 above. The program shall provide the participants with a brief description and inspection of the host facitlity.
3. During each regular meeting the program shall include a business session for the purpose of elections (when due), consideration of new admissions, selection of future hosts, and any other discussions of a business nature.
4. There shall be no limitation on the maximum number of persons from any one member facility that may attend the meetings; the normal number shall be two representatives.
5. The host facitlity shall exercise the prerogative of limiting the total attendance should sufficient space not be available to accommodate all those who desire to attend.
6. Permission for representatives of non-member organizations to attend meetings may be granted by the Chairman with the concurrence of the host facility. Non-members shall be permitted to attend the business session to present their application, but shall not be permitted to participate in the meeting itself or be present during voting.

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3.6   Membership

1. Becoming a member:
1. Membership shall be limited to aerodynamic facilities of sufficient size to do significant research and/or development work.
2. A provisional membership may be granted to a group planning aerodynamic facilities of sufficient size to do, or engage in doing, significant research and development work. Such membership shall not carry voting privileges and shall be reviewed at the end of three years to determine whether the membership should be extended to "full", continued as "provisional", or withdrawn.
3. Organizations primarily involved in the commercial design and/or fabrication of aerodynamic facility equipment shall be ineligible for membership.
4. Representation: Each member facility shall nominate one of its staff as its official representative to this Association and so inform the Chairman by letter. All correspondence to the member facility shall be addressed to this official representative.
5. In order to apply for membership, an aerodynamic facility shall:
1. Send a letter to the Chairman from a responsible official, requesting membership and agreeing to abide by the constitution; and
2. Furnish the Chairman with sufficient information to enable the members to determine whether the applicant fULfills the membership requirements.
6. Voting for admission of new members shall be by secret ballot and by a simple majority, with each member facility having one vote.
7. Membership can by terminated by a letter to the Chairman from a responsible official of the member facility.
8. Organizations which have independent facilities at separate divisions may apply for separate membership for each facility.
9. Members failing to attend two consecutive regular (annual) meetings shall be notified in writing by the Chairman that failure to attend the next regular meeting will forfeit their membership.

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3.7   Secretariat

Administrative services for the organization shall be provided by a Secretariat. The Secretariat role is accepted by a member facility’s sponsoring organization. The official representative to this Association from that member facility serves as the primary Secretariat point of contact. The Secretariat position shall be voluntary and uncompensated. The Secretariat role will be relinquished at any time at the discretion of the officers and there is no limit on the length of time that the Secretariat may serve. The Secretariat shall be confirmed by vote of the membership following each bi-annual election of officers.

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4.0   Policy

All voting and participation in office by representatives is recognized as the reponse of an individual rather than the response of the facility member.

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