Bylaws concerning the Membership Committee and Service Award
Rules governing operation and nominations of the Committee pertaining to the Service Award
- Eligibility: Candidate should be Member who has advanced the goals of the Society to promote research and education in meteoritics and planetary science in ways other than by conducting scientific research. Examples of activities that could be honored by the award include, but are not limited to, education and public outreach, service to the Society and the broader scientific community, and acquisition, classification, and curation of new samples for research. The award may be given annually, and is a lifetime membership in the Society, effective January 1 of the year following the presentation of the award. Members of the Council and the Membership Committee making the selection are not eligible to receive the award. The award also should not be given to former officers of the Society for activities conducted in the performance of their duties.
- Nominations: Nominations may be made by any member of the Society in good standing or by any scientist working in the field of Planetary Sciences. Members of the Membership Committee or Council may not make or second nominations during their period of service on the Committee or Council. A person may not make more than one nomination in a one year period of time. Nominations must be made in writing and submitted in the appropriate format (see below) to the Chair of the Membership Committee and the Meteoritical Society Secretary (metsocsec@gmail.com) on or before February 15 of the year before the Award is to be presented.
- Format of Nominations: The nomination should include: (a) a biographical sketch of the candidate; and (b) a summary and evaluation of the accomplishments of the candidate as it relates to education and public outreach, service to the Society and the broader scientific community, and acquisition, classification, and curation of new samples for research, and other related activities. The nomination should address both the length of time that the candidate has undertaken the activities and their impact audience (the Society, wider scientific community, general public, etc.) The Nominator should also provide, or arrange to have provided, to the Chair, seconding letters which support the nomination, and which may provide additional information. Seconding letters may be provided either by Members of the Society or by appropriate knowledgeable outside scientists.
- Duration of Nominations: Nominations will be kept active, and will be reconsidered annually by the Committee, for two more years after submission year (so, each nomination will be considered for three years total). During this period, the original Nominator may provide to the Chair supplementary material reflecting new developments which will be considered with the original nomination. After this three-year period, a completely new nomination will be required, and the original Nominator will be so informed by the Chair of the Committee.