Rules of Procedure

These RULES OF PROCEDURE (hereinafter called "RULES") apply to the SIAM Activity Group on Orthogonal Polynomials and Special Functions (hereinafter called "SIAG") to which these RULES apply is formed under the aegis of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (hereinafter called "SIAM"), and shall operate according to the bylaws of SIAM. The SIAG shall not affiliate with any other organization without first obtaining the written approvals of the SIAM President and the Chair of the SIAM Board. No provisions of these RULES shall be construed so as to contradict the bylaws of SIAM.

Articles

Article I: Purpose

The purpose of the SIAG is to promote basic research in orthogonal polynomials and special functions; to further the application of this subject in other parts of mathematics, and in science and industry; and to encourage and support the exchange of information, ideas, and techniques between workers in this field, and other mathematicians and scientists.

The group is concerned with the following topics and their applications: general systems of orthogonal polynomials - asymptotic analysis, three-term recurrence relations and Markov processes, numerical quadrature, Julia sets, least-squares of orthogonal polynomials - harmonic analysis, approximation theory, representations of compact groups, quantum mechanics, combinatorics, coding and design theory; orthogonal polynomials in several variables - lie groups, tomography, optics, wave functions in crystals; special functions - for example, Bessel, gamma, theta, spheroidal wave, etc., solutions of partial differential equations, harmonic analysis of non-compact groups, statistical mechanics, integral transforms, number theory. Within the framework of SIAM, the SIAG will conduct activities that implement its purposes.

Article II: Activities

The SIAG on Orthogonal Polynomials and Special Functions will organize activities in orthogonal polynomials. The SIAG is expected to:

1) Organize minisymposia at the SIAM Annual Meeting on years where there is no SIAG conference.

2) Organize a track of at least six minisymposia at the SIAM Annual Meeting at least once every seven years. The VP for Programs and the VP at Large will coordinate the scheduling with the SIAG Chairs.

Other activities can include:
3) Dissemination of information about upcoming conferences and sponsoring special sessions at SIAM meetings. Also, the group will assist researchers in the use of symbolic computer calculations by publicizing available software for special functions. Another goal is to establish some working relationships with the various SIAM journals, especially the one on mathematical analysis, with the view of sporadically sponsoring some invited or contributed Articles.

4) With the approval of the SIAM Program Committee, the SIAG may organize special sessions at SIAM meetings, and conduct special one- or two-day meetings immediately before or after a regular SIAM meeting. Other SIAG meetings may be organized only with the approval of the SIAM President and Vice President for Programs.

SIAG meetings, workshops, and conferences may be organized only with the approval of the SIAM President and the SIAM Vice President for Programs.

Article III: Membership

Membership in the SIAG shall be open to any SIAM member, but to no others.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1. There shall be a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Program Director, all of whom shall be regular members in good standing of the SIAG. The SIAG shall hold an election to fill those offices every three years.

Elections will follow standard SIAM Activity Group practices. In particular, at least two candidates must be nominated for each office and the nomination process must provide the opportunity for any modest-sized group of SIAG members to nominate candidates.

Section 2. The SIAG chairperson shall preside at the meetings of the SIAG, coordinate the completion of the bi-annual charter report to the SIAM Council, and represent the SIAG at meetings of the SIAG Chairs. In the absence of the Chair, the line of succession is the Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Program Director.

Section 3. The secretary of the SIAG shall keep a record of the affairs of the SIAG.

The Secretary is responsible for the production and distribution of SIAG newsletters and for insuring that the information about the SIAG on the SIAM website is correct.

Section 4. The Program Director will have responsibility for SIAG conferences and programs, including participation in the SIAM Annual Meeting. The Program Director will coordinate these activities with the Chair, who has overall responsibility for the direction of the SIAG. The Program Director will serve as the conference organizer or delegate such responsibilities to an individual approved by the Chair and other officers.

Article V: Prizes and Awards

The SIAG shall not present awards or prizes that recognize scientific achievement, professional service, or the like without prior approval by the SIAM Major Awards Committee, the SIAM Council, and the SIAM Board of Trustees. Petitions to establish prizes or awards must follow standard SIAM procedures.

Article VI: Reporting

This SIAG must submit a formal, standardized charter report to the SIAM Board and Council on the final year of their renewed operation period.

Article VII: Period of Operation and Renewal

Each new SIAG must submit a set of RULES to the Council and Board. The SIAG may not begin its activities until its RULES have been approved. In approving the RULES, the council and board shall specify the period of activity of the SIAG.

Each period of activity of the SIAG will be three years. Each period of activity must be renewed by the Council and Board. The SIAG shall apply to the Council and Board for renewal at least seven months prior to the end of each three-year period of activity. The application for renewal shall describe how the SIAG will continue to complement SIAM activities and describe its support of the functions indicated in its RULES. The renewal application shall be based on the SIAM Board and Council "Guidelines for the Renewal and Termination of Activity Groups." The activities of the SIAG shall not be continued to a new three-year period of activity without council and board approval.

Article VIII: Termination

In the event that the activity level of the SIAG is below expectations in any three-year period herein designated, the SIAG shall be considered terminated at the end of that three-year period and any continuation of the SIAG's activities will be contingent on the establishment of a new SIAG according to the practices established for the initiation of a SIAG. Principles for the termination of SIAGs may be found in the SIAM Board and Council "Guidelines for the Renewal and Termination of Activity Groups."

Article IX: Publications

With the approval of the appropriate managing editor, the SIAG may have articles and news columns in SIAM News and, on special occasions, a portion of a SIAM journal may be devoted to topics suggested, organized, and/or prepared by the SIAG. No separate SIAG publications are permitted without the specific written approval of the publications committee.

Article X: Fees

A yearly membership fee may be assessed each member of the SIAG at the time of payment of annual SIAM dues. This fee shall be established by the SIAM Board of Trustees.

Monies shall be collected and accounted for by SIAM. Such monies shall not be used for purposes other than support of the activities of the SIAG from which they were collected, except that such monies may be assessed on a per-member basis for costs incurred by SIAM in providing services to the members of the SIAG.

Article XI: Contracts

No officer or member of the SIAG may apply for a grant to support SIAG activities or enter into any contract to support such activities or to provide services without specific approval in writing by the President and either the Treasurer of SIAM or the Chief Executive Officer acting on behalf of the Treasurer.

No SIAG or any officer or representative thereof shall have any authority to contract debts for, pledge the credit of, or in any way bind SIAM.

Article XII: Funds for Support

Requests for funds to support SIAG activities may be made in writing to the treasurer of SIAM. A loan or grant to the SIAG in the amount of $200 or less can be made by the treasurer. Only one such loan or grant may be made to the SIAG during any fiscal year. Other loans or financial grants to the SIAG shall be approved by the Board.

All requests for funds shall be substantiated by a proposed budget for expenditures.

All distributions of said funds shall be in the form of disbursements from SIAM; said disbursements shall be made on receipt of substantiating vouchers.

Article XIII: Changes

Changes to these RULES may be made at any time by the SIAM Council and SIAM Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the SIAM President. Changes to these RULES may be made by the SIAG with the approval of the Council and the Board.

Amendments:

The initial period of activities of this SIAG shall begin on January 1, 1990 and end on December 31, 1992. The SIAM Council, July 19, 1992, and the SIAM Board of Trustees, July 25, 1992, renewed the SIAG charter for a three-year term beginning January 1, 1993, and ending December 31, 1995. The SIAM Council, July 28, 1994, and the SIAM Board of Trustees, December 10, 1994, renewed the SIAG charter for a three-year term beginning January 1, 1996, and ending December 31, 1998. The SIAM Council, July 17, 1997, and the SIAM Board of Trustees, July 19, 1997, renewed the SIAG charter for a three-year term beginning January 1, 1999, and ending December 31, 2001. The SIAM Council, July 13, 2000, and the SIAM Board of Trustees, July 15, 2000, renewed the SIAG charter for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2002, and ending December 31, 2004. The SIAM Council, on June 19, 2003, and the SIAM Board of Trustees, on June 21, 2003, renewed the SIAG charter for a three-year period beginning January 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2007. Each period of activity of the SIAG shall not exceed three years. Each period of activity must be renewed by the SIAM Council and the SIAM Board of Trustees. The SIAM Council and Board of Trustees, at their July 2007 meetings, renewed the SIAG charter for a three-year period beginning January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009.

The SIAM Activity Group on Orthogonal Polynomials and Special Functions (SIAG/OPSF) remains active; it has been renewed every two years by the SIAM Council and Board. See the most recent Charter renewal application for their current statement of activities and plans; a copy is located in the SIAG/DS Archive.