FTL-SIG is the Fort Lauderdale, Florida Professional Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics (ACM SIGGRAPH).

Our goal is to promote an increased knowledge of and greater interest in the science, design, development, and applications of modern computing in computer graphics.

Click here for our bylaws.

FTL-SIG is affiliated with the following parent organizations:

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

ACM's Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH)

FTL-SIG also has close ties to the other Florida ACM SIGGRAPH Professional Chapters.

1. This organization shall be called the Fort Lauderdale Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics, also known as the Fort Lauderdale ACM SIGGRAPH. In these bylaws it will be referred to as the "Local" and the Association for Computing Machinery will be referred to as "ACM".

2. The scope of the Local is the field of Computer Graphics.

3. The Local will support activities complimentary to the ACM and other ACM activities in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area, including Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Article II Purpose

1. The Chapter is organized and will be operated exclusively for educational, artistic and scientific purposes. Specific objectives are:

A. To promote an increased knowledge of and greater interest in the science, design, development, and applications of modern computing in computer graphics.

B. To provide a means of communication between persons having an interest in computing.

2. The activities of this Local will include the following:

A. Collecting and disseminating information through a newsletter, announcements and other publications.

B. Sponsoring meetings, conferences, symposia, discussion groups and workshops.

C. Organizing sessions at ACM conferences.

D. Serving as a source of information for its members, other ACM units, and the general public.

E. Working with other ACM units on activities such as lectures, professional development seminars and technical briefings.

Article III Charter

1. This Local is chartered by the ACM. It is formed and will operate under the sponsorship of the ACM, the Local Activities Board, ACM SIGGRAPH, and the SIG Board.

2. This Local can be dissolved by consent of its members, or by action of the Local Activities Board with the concurrence of the SIG Board.

3. These bylaws neither supersede nor abrogate any of the provisions in the ACM Constitution and Bylaws or Policies and Procedures of the ACM that regulate SIG or chapter affairs.

Article IV Membership

1. Voting membership in the Local shall be open to all persons who are ACM members or ACM SIG members, and other interested persons in the locality served by the Chapter whose Fort Lauderdale ACM Siggraph dues are paid in full at the time of an election or other official ballot.

2. Non voting affiliate membership may be granted to other interested persons, upon request and payment of dues. Non voting affiliate members shall include members of Sig's Kids, and honorary members.

3. Student membership in this Local is open to all full time students; student membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Council, but shall not exceed 75 percent of regular member dues.

4. A person becomes a member of the Local by enrolling and paying any required dues.

Article V Officers

1. The officers of this Local shall be: Chairman, Vice Chair, VP Programs, VP Communications, Treasurer, Secretary and Sergeant at Arms.

2. All officers of the Local must be voting Members of ACM and members of ACM SIGGRAPH.

3. Candidates for office need not be members of ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH, however, [if elected, they must become members of ACM and members of ACM SIGGRAPH.

4. Officers shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast by the voting members of the Local.

5. The officers shall take office on January 1 and serve for one year.

6. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of an officer, a special election shall be held at the next regular meeting following the resignation to fill the vacancy. The term of office shall be from the date of the special election until the following January 1.

7. Any Executive Council member holding more than one position on the Executive Council shall be entitled to one vote during Executive Council or Committee meetings.

8. The Executive Council may remove any officer or committee chair by a 2/3 vote of the entire Executive Council.

Article VI Duties of Officers

1. The Chairman is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the Local and managing its activities in accordance with the policies and procedures of the ACM. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of this Local and of its Executive Council.

2. Vice Chairman will preside over meetings in the absence of the Chairman. The Vice Chair shall assist and support the Chairman in the administration of his/her duties. The Vice Chairman's shall also give emergency support and assistance of a temporary nature to any officer or committee chair who, for unforseen reasons, cannot fulfill a specific aspect of their duties for a short period of time.

3. The VP Programs shall head the Program Committee in planning and making arrangements for the programs of the Local's meetings in accordance with the membership's interests and the aims of the Local as set forth in ARTICLE II.

4. The VP Communications shall be our National Liaison, shall handle the Local's public relations and shall be in charge of all publicity. He/she shall write and distribute information about the activities of the Local to the appropriate media.

5. The Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the Local. Duties of the Treasurer include:

A. Managing the finances of the Local according to the policies and procedures of the ACM, including collecting dues and paying all bills.

B. Keeping full and accurate accounts of receipts and expenditures of the Local.

C. Completing and submitting of the Annual Financial Report to ACM Headquarters.

6. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Local's meetings of the Local's Executive Council meetings. The secretary shall also handle all of the Local's correspondence. Other duties of the secretary shall be:

A. Maintaining the records of the Local.

B. Preparation of the Local's Activity Report and submission of this report to ACM Headquarters.

C. Notification to ACM Headquarters of any changes in the elected Officers of the Local.

D. Submission of any proposed amendment to these bylaws to the Chairmen of the Local Activities Board and the ACM Constitution and Bylaws Committee for approval.

7. The Sergeant at Arms shall be in charge of the physical arrangements for the Local's meetings, any technical equipment that needs to be set up in advance, coordinating the meetings and handling protocol for the meetings.

Article VII Executive Council

The Executive Council shall consist of the present officers of the Local, the immediate Past Chairman, and the Board of Directors, who shall be defined as the Chairmen of the Standing Committees, and up to ten Members at Large. The Executive Council shall appoint all Standing and Temporary Committee chairmen and Members at Large.

The term of the members of the Board of Directors shall be from the date of their acceptance of their appointment until the end of the calendar year.

Article VIII Standings Committees

The Standing Committees of the Local shall be Sig's Kids, Newsletter, Membership, Fund Raising, and Members at Large.

1. The Sig's Kids Committee shall work with the local school systems in instigating programs that will expose students to computer graphics and promote interest in the field. They will also organize the membership under 18 and have their own meetings geared toward the interests of these members. The Committee will report the activities of these meetings to the Local.

2. The Newsletter Committee shall publish a bi monthly newsletter to all members of the Local and any other people who may be interested in becoming members containing information about computer graphics in general and information concerning the scheduled activities of the Local.

3. The Membership Committee shall actively recruit people in the area who are working in computer graphics or related fields, or show an interest in computer graphics, to join the Local and participate in its activities.

4. The Fund Raising Committee shall work with the Treasurer to plan how the Local will raise funds for its activities.

5. The Members at Large Committee shall be a group of Members at Large who are interested in participating in the planning of the Local's activities with the Executive Council without being elected to an office or acting as a Chairman of one of the other Standing Committees. This group shall have its own Chairman to act on their behalf and present their ideas and suggestions to the Executive Council.

Article IX Temporary Committees

The Executive Council may appoint such temporary committees as appropriate.

1. A Nominating Committee, consisting of at least three members of this Local, at least two of whom shall not currently be members of the Executive Council, shall be appointed by the Chairman at least two months prior to the time the Election is to be held.

Article X Meetings

1. General Membership meetings shall be held as planned by the Program Committee. The Local will conduct at least two meetings a year for the general membership.

2. Written notices of all meetings shall be distributed to all members at least ten days prior to any meeting. Notices of Executive Council meetings shall be made available to the General Membership.

3. The Local shall hold meetings only in places that are open and accessible to all members of the Association.

4. The Annual Business meeting shall be held at the last meeting of the program year. At this meeting the Treasurer shall present a report. Also, the election of officers shall be held.

Article XI Disbursements and Dues

Disbursements from the Treasury for expenditures of the Local shall be made by the Treasurer with authorization of the Executive Council and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.

Dues shall be fixed annually by the Executive Council.

Article XII Amendment and Voting Procedures

1. All proposed changes to these Local Bylaws shall have been approved by the Chairmen of the Local Activities Board and the ACM Constitution and Bylaws Committee before being presented to the Local membership for a vote.

2. No official business of the Local shall be conducted unless a quorum of the Local is present, or a quorum of the Executive Council is present.

3. A quorum of the Local shall be defined as five percent of the voting membership of the Local, or at least ten voting members, whichever is greater.

4. At Executive Council meetings, a majority of the Executive council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

5. A simple majority of the members present and voting shall be required to carry a motion.

6. Officers will be elected by a plurality of votes cast.

Article XIII Dissolution of the Local

1. Dissolution of this Local by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of the Local for the purpose of taking this vote.

2. Should this Local be dissolved, its assets and liabilities shall be transferred to ACM and shall be supervised by the Local Activities Board.