For more information regarding the recommendations of the Committee on Special Interest Groups, please refer to the minutes of the meeting of the Policy Council of the System Dynamics Society, 28 July 2002, Grand Hotel Villa Igiea, Palermo, Sicily.
1. Nature of the Special Interest Groups
The scope of each Special Interest Group is defined by the members who identify themselves through a shared interest in a particular subject domain.
The special interest groups do not form a separate legal identity but are simply a group of System Dynamic Society members with a shared interest.
2. Relationship to the System Dynamics Society
The Special Interest Groups are formed from the general membership of the System Dynamics Society and are not independent entities, as are the Chapters, which have their own constitution, bylaws, and policies and procedures.
A list of Special Interest Groups will be publicized via the System Dynamics Society website, the Society newsletter, and other publications.
The SIG’s will communicate with the System Dynamics Society Policy Council through written reports submitted to the Vice President Membership.
3. Requirements for Recognition
To apply for recognition by System Dynamics Society as an organized Special Interest Group, the group must have at least six System Dynamics Society members signing on, and at least two people willing to serve as leaders of the group responsible to for reporting to the Policy Council on the activities of the group.
Please send the proposal to Vice President Chapters and SIGs for review and to forward to the Policy Council. The Special Interest Group proposal will be presented to the Policy Council either at a meeting, or electronically. A motion to formally accept the Special Interest Group into the System Dynamics Society will be made and voted on by the Policy Council.
Activities and a current list of SIG members will be reported annually and the minimum of six System Dynamics Society members must be met for continued recognition.
Recognition of a Special Interest Group may be rescinded with ten (10) days notice if the Policy Council feels there is reasonable cause to do so.
4. Membership
Membership in Special Interest Groups is open to all dues-paying members of the System Dynamics Society. People with shared interests but who are not members of the System Dynamics Society are also welcome to participate in the activities of the Special Interest Group. System Dynamics Society members and other individuals wishing to join a Special Interest Group may do so by contacting any of the appointed representatives. The contact information should be made available on the Society website.
5. Meeting and Selection of Representatives
Each Special Interest Group will meet once during the annual meeting of the System Dynamics Society and select two leaders. The Special Interest Group may choose any process to select its leaders but both must be confirmed by a simple majority vote of the SIG members present during the meeting.
6. Dues
The Special Interest Groups will not charge any dues. The work of the SIG’s will be done by volunteers. The SIG’s may, however, occasionally engage in activities that require payment, and only those members choosing to pay will be eligible to participate in those activities.
7. Sponsorship of Activities
The SIG’s may request System Dynamics Society recognition of and/or co-sponsorship of specially organized major programs. The review of the request and response to the SIG will be the responsibility of the System Dynamics Society Executive Director and Executive Committee, who may choose to bring the request before the System Dynamics Society Policy Council.
8. Policies
The SIG’s may be encouraged to submit proposals for high quality programs at the System Dynamics Society annual conferences.
The SIG’s are encouraged to promote interaction with professional and academic organizations whose members have similar interests.