Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1930-1949)

Proposed Amendments to the Bylaws TWO SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS to the Bylaws of the Society are presented here, with the Board of Governors' reasons for proposing that they be adopted. They represent the first formal result of an official study of organization and operating practices of SMPTE started last January at the Board's request and are intended to state clearly two matters of importance. The first recites the long established policy of the Society respecting the voluntary nature of Standards and Recommendations developed within SMPTE engineering committees. The second sets down, of legal necessity, a newly drawn provision for disposition of the Society's assets in the unlikely event of dissolution. For these amendments to become official they must be processed as outlined in Bylaw XIII last published on page 348 of the Journal for April this year. The Board of Governors initiated the recommendation during its meeting in New York on July 17. Publication here is also required and next comes consideration by the voting members during the regular meeting of the Society which is held annually during the fall convention. This year it will occur at 3 P.M. Monday afternoon, October 6, just preceding the first technical session of the Society's 72d Convention at the Hotel Statler in Washington, D.G. Voluntary Standards As a part of his regular quarterly report to the Board of Governors, Fred T. Bowditch, Engineering Vice-President, stated his belief that although the members of the Society knew that American Standards for which the Society serves as sponsor, and other formal Recommendations published by the Society, were voluntary, and that their existence did not preclude members or nonmembers from manufacturing and selling products not conforming to the Standards, it would be advisable to incorporate a provision to that effect in the Bylaws of the Society. The Board was in agreement and passed a Resolution proposing adoption of the following: BYLAW XIV Standards and Recommendations Sec. 1. American Standards sponsored by the Society and the Society's Recommendations are proposed and adopted in the public interest and are designed to eliminate misunderstanding between the manufacturer and the purchaser and to assist the purchaser in selecting and obtaining the proper product for its particular need. Existence of such a Standard or Recommendation does not in any respect preclude any member or nonmember from manufacturing or selling products not conforming to the Standard or Recommendation. Disposition of Assets Herbert Barnett, Executive Vice-President, who served as Chairman in the absence of President Peter Mole, stated that in his opinion it would be advisable to provide in the Bylaws for disposition of the Society's assets in case of dissolution. After extended discussion, the Board voted in favor of such a provision, approving unanimously the following proposed amendment : BYLAW XV Disposition of Assets and Dissolution Sec. 1. Upon the dissolution of the Society and after payment of all indebtedness of the Society, the funds, investments and other assets of the Society shall be given and transferred to some other nonprofit organization having objects similar to those of the Society. The selection of such other organization shall be made by the Board of Governors either at a regular meeting of said Board of Governors or at a special meeting of said Board called for the purpose of selecting such an organization. August 1952 Journal of the SMPTE Vol. 59 153