VISION
To be the premier professional society government relations organization.
MISSION
To contribute to the knowledge base, vitality, and impact of the Society by providing services, proactively or upon request, to the leadership, communities, enterprises, stakeholders and members of ASME. Specifically, in its interactions with governmental entities, the Board will strive to keep ASME’s stakeholders informed; provide guidance and aid in developing strategies, testimony and position papers; identify points of contact representing members; and facilitate programs and interactions on issues on a national level of interest to ASME.
ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES
- To identify issues and initiatives of interest to ASME stakeholders emanating from government, education and industry sectors, and to assess ASME member priorities regarding technology and policy matters.
- To inform government entities on matters of technical content or professional concern to the engineering community and to keep stakeholders apprised of government policies and actions.
- To involve ASME members in advocacy roles and encourage their participation in providing technical input and expertise to improve the quality of government and public policy decision-making.
- To influence, through position papers, testimony, and briefings, the directions and outcomes pertaining to public issues of engineering relevance, consistent with ASME member priorities and communicated by authorized representatives of the Society.
PROGRAMS and ACTIVITIES
The Board may establish strategies, guidelines, programs and activities that fulfill the above roles and responsibilities. Descriptions of program guidelines and specific programs are provided in appendices to the Operations Guide.
CONDUCT of OPERATIONS
AUTHORITY
The ASME Constitution and Bylaws, ASME Manual MM-1, defines this Board and the Strategic Management Sector (SMS), which has direction over the Board on Government Relations. The Nominating Committee Manual, MM-10, includes a job description for the Vice President, Government Relations who serves as Chair of this Board. It is the intent of this Operations Guide to be compatible with the constitution and Bylaws and all other applicable Society rules and policies, which hold precedence over this guide. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:) P-15.1, Public Affairs and Public Statements; P-15.7, Ethics; P-15.8, Conflicts of Interest; P-4.5, Travel Expense Contribution; P-4.6, Travel Expense Reimbursement; P-4.12, Operations Guide; and P-12.1, The Conduct of Conferences and Events.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Voting Members
The BGR shall consist nominally of ten voting members, including the following:
- Vice President, Government Relations; Chair of the Board
- Past Vice President, Government Relations – most recent past VP available
- Eight at-large members nominated by the Board and appointed by the Strategic Management Sector. In nominating at-large members, the Board shall seek to achieve and maintain appropriate representation from, and communication channels with, other Sectors.
Non-Voting Members
Non-voting members may serve on BGR sub-units and represent BGR to other ASME entities or other organizations.
Adjunct Members are appointed to BGR because of their expressed interest and expertise in Board matters. Federal Fellows and WISE interns become Adjunct Members at the close of the first Summer Annual Meeting after completion of their respective Fellowships and Internships. Other adjunct members may be appointed by the Chair.
Emeritus Members are former voting members of the Board. They become Emeritus Members at the close of the first Summer Annual Meeting after completion of their last term as a voting member of the Board.
The voting member of the Nominating Committee elected by the Board (unless otherwise a voting member of this Board) shall be a member without a vote.
The Director of Government Relations shall be a member of the Board without a vote.
TERMS OF OFFICE
Voting Members
In general, six of the at-large members will be appointed and serve for a term of three years, beginning and ending at the close of the ASME Business Meeting at the Summer Annual Meeting. Two of these at-large members will be appointed each year and are limited to two consecutive three-year terms. If an at-large member is initially appointed to fill an unexpired term, that member remains eligible to also serve two consecutive three-year terms. Two additional at-large members may be appointed for flexible terms of one to three years to address special projects or serve defined roles on the board. Although reappointment is possible, no member serving a flexible term may exceed a total of six years of continuous membership on the Board.
Nonvoting Members
Federal Fellows and WISE Interns serve a three-year term as Adjunct Members. Emeritus Members also serve a three-year term. Other Adjunct Members appointed by the Chair will serve at the pleasure of the Chair and their terms shall extend no longer than the Chair’s term of office.
Operations
The operations of the Board on Government Relations to fulfill the vision and mission may vary over time and with changes in these elements and in personnel. These operations, including the method and structure of organization, staff interactions and responsibilities, programs, job descriptions, financial planning and budgeting, delegates (including the Society’s Nominating Committee), representatives to other entities, evaluation and reporting protocol, and other matters, may be described in appendices. These appendices may be issued by sub-units of the Board, the full Board, or by the Vice President. They remain in effect until modified or deleted by the issuing party, or until the term of the issuing party expires.
Meetings and Records
Meetings of the BGR shall be open to all members and staff of the Society.
Frequency
The BGR shall meet twice each year, at the time of the International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exhibition and the Summer Annual Meeting. The Chair may call additional meetings.
Notice
Written notice and an advanced agenda shall be provided at least one month prior to all BGR meetings.
Rules
The Society Constitution and Bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the conduct of meetings of the BGR.
Executive Session
The Chair may declare the BGR to be in Executive Session when items of a confidential nature are discussed. Attendance at an Executive Session is limited to voting members of the BGR and other individuals, as may be requested by the Chair.
Records
Records shall consist of approved minutes of meetings of the BGR. All records, except for those of executive sessions, shall be open to all members of the Society. The Director of Government Relations is responsible for the preparation and distribution of these minutes and shall maintain a permanent file of the minutes. Draft minutes will first be issued subject to approval by the voting members of the BGR.
APPROVAL and AMENDMENTS
This Operations Guide shall be approved by a majority vote of the BGR. Amendments shall be approved by the same process.
The Director of Government Relations shall prepare and distribute this guide and any amendments, and shall oversee the contents and currency of all Appendices.
APPENDICES
Society Policy 15.1