The Past President's Message

Season’s greetings to all. As my contribution to the Accelerator Section newsletter this quarter, I decided to remind all section members that our section has an approved standard operating procedure (SOP) that sets forth how our section "gets things done" on an annual basis. We are extremely fortunate that Scott Schwahn, one of our section past presidents, took the time several years ago to provide us with this comprehensive guidance document.

After serving on the Accelerator Section Nominating Committee several times in the past few years, I found that I was asked frequently by potential candidates, when they were approached to be nominated as officers or directors, what were the duties of each position and how did the Accelerator Section actually function.

The Accelerator Section SOP is provided below for your information. I hope that making this information available will increase member awareness of how our section gets things done. Please let Bob Casey, Lorraine Day, or me know if you have any suggestions for improvement or comments on our SOP.

Standard Operating Procedure for Accelerator Section (revised on 05-04-01)

President

• Work with the president-elect to arrange the accelerator session at the HPS annual meeting. (Call issued in fall; abstract submit in December-January.) Session is generally on Tuesday morning.
• Assist president-elect to seek candidate for the Morgan Lecture Award to speak at the HPS annual meeting. (Call issued in fall; submit in December; approved in February.)
• Seek candidates for nomination as HPS fellows or other awards. (Call issued in November; submit no later than February.)
• Every fourth year, seek candidate for IAEA delegate. (Call issued in fall; submit in December.)
• Convene section executive board meeting (Monday morning with breakfast paid by section) and the 1-h section business meeting at the HPS annual meeting (following the accelerator session). (Arrange in spring.)
• Convene section executive board meeting and section business meeting at HPS midyear meeting, if enough members attend. (Arrange in fall.)
• Prepare and submit an annual report of the section to the president of the society, with a copy to the executive secretary of the society. (At least two weeks before the annual meeting of the society.)
• Prepare report on section activities for HPS board. (Call issued in fall; due before midyear meeting.)
• Contribute to quarterly newsletter.
• Communicate with executive board on matters requiring decisions.

President-Elect

• Work with president to arrange accelerator session at HPS annual meeting. (Call issued in fall; abstract submit in December-January.)
• Seek nominations for Morgan Lecturer at accelerator session, and arrange details for lecturer. (Call issued in fall; submit in December; approved in February.)
• Serve on search committee for new officer candidates?
• Contribute to newsletter.

Past President

• Serve as the chair of the search committee (3 members) for new officer candidates. (Convene the committee in March; call for nomination in April; selection result in May.)
• Check by-law.
• Serve as the chair of the Awards Committee.

Secretary

• Keep section activity records and the minutes of section-related meetings.
• Keep updated copies of by-laws, SOPs, and section membership list.
• Issue needed reports.
• Distribute election ballots and report on results of election.

Treasurer

• Keep budget information up to date.
• Check HPS accounting and ensure needed information is provided.
• Report on budget at annual meeting.

Newsletter Editor

• Prepare, maintain, and issue section’s quarterly newsletters. (Solicit contributions in August, November, February, and May; issue newsletter by the end of September, December, March and June.)

Webmaster

• Create and maintain the section website (currently under development by Greg Jones of LLNL.)

Board of Directors

• Make recommendations or suggestions and assist in the decision-making of important section affairs.