Tucson SPIN

I - ESTABLISHMENT

The concept for the Tucson area chapter of the Software Process Improvement Network, hereafter referred to as the Tucson SPIN, was conceptualized in January 2000 as a non-profit organization. The Tucson SPIN began meeting in March 2000.

II - MISSION

SPIN is a forum for the free and open exchange of software process improvement experiences and ideas. The organization will serve as a source of educational and scientific information for its members, other SPIN organizations, and the general software community.

Specifically tailored to the Tucson SPIN environment, our purpose is to identify and leverage off of best practices sources (Commercial companies, government contractors and university entities) for software processes, methods and tools in order to identify globally-optimized process practices.

Additionally, the Tucson SPIN will integrate all entities involved in software development (Software Development Engineering, Software Process Engineering, Software Quality Engineering and Software Configuration Management) in order to disseminate our learning across the software development community. Included in this involvement will be our external, but critically interfacing customers, suppliers and partners such as Systems Engineering and Test Engineering.

III - OBJECTIVES

In carrying out its mission, the Tucson SPIN organization will act to accomplish the following objectives within the software community:

• Advance the quality and reliability of software. 
• Improve process maturity "links" between the software process and external customers and suppliers. 
• Improve software productivity. 
• Promote software process maturity. 
• Support the development of deterministic and quantitative product development processes. 
• Transfer software improvement knowledge and innovation to all participants. 
• Share lessons learned and best practices among participants and other SPIN organizations. 
• Promote cooperation between industry, academia, and government with respect to software process improvement technology. 

IV - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Tucson SPIN is open, without discrimination, to all individuals, companies, universities, and government organizations who are interested in furthering the objectives of the Tucson SPIN.

A company, university, or government organization may designate a member of the Tucson SPIN as its point of contact.

An individual, company, university, or government organization becomes a member of the Tucson SPIN by enrolling in the organization and paying any required dues.

V - ORGANIZATION

The Tucson SPIN will consist of a steering committee and various standing and ad hoc committees. All committee members and officers will receive no remuneration for their services.

A. STEERING COMMITTEE

The steering committee will consist of a chairperson, a vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer, four (4) at-large members, and chairperson of each standing committee. The steering committee will meet at least twice a year.

The responsibilities of the steering committee will be, as follows:
 

Manage the affairs of the Tucson SPIN organization. 

Generate the operating budget. 

Approve or authorize all expenditures either by individual appropriation or by budget. 

Maintain coordination with other SPIN organizations. 

Approve programs for SPIN meetings. 

Make appointments to vacancies in elected committee positions. 

Appoint standing and ad hoc committee chairpersons. 

Establish and disband standing and ad hoc committees. 

1. Responsibilities of Chairperson

The chairperson will preside at regular meetings of the Tucson SPIN and at meetings of the steering committee, will be responsible for the duties of other officers in the event of their absence or incapacity, until they are replaced by the steering committee, and will be the point of contact for other organizations, including SPINS. The chairperson will be authorized to sign Tucson SPIN checks.

2. Responsibilities of Vice Chairperson

The vice chairperson will assist the chairperson in presiding over the Tucson SPIN and will assume the duties of chairperson upon the latter's request, absence, or incapacity.

3. Responsibilities of Secretary

The secretary will be responsible for recording the minutes of all Tucson SPIN and steering committee meetings, conveying minutes to the library committee, and disseminating all Tucson SPIN membership correspondence. The secretary will also be a member of the membership committee.

4. Responsibilities of Treasurer

The treasurer will be the custodian of all funds of the Tucson SPIN under direction from the steering committee. The treasurer will render an annual report within thirty (30) days of the end of the Tucson SPIN fiscal year, plus any special reports required by the steering committee. The treasurer will monitor all expenditures against the budget and will have authorization to sign Tucson SPIN checks.

B. STANDING COMMITTEES

Standing committees will support the continuing long-term activities of the Tucson SPIN. The chairperson of each standing committee will be responsible for appointing all members of his/her committee and for ensuring that meeting minutes are forwarded to the library committee. The committees may include, though not be limited to, the following:

1. Program Committee

The program committee will be responsible for the topics and speakers at all Tucson SPIN meetings.

2. Library Committee

The library committee will be responsible for maintaining all literature pertinent to the mission of the organization. The library will include all meeting minutes and any available presentation materials.

3. Membership Committee

The membership committee will be responsible for soliciting and enrolling new members into the organization and maintaining a data base of the current members.

4. Newsletter Committee

The newsletter committee will be responsible for producing and distributing any newsletters to the Tucson SPIN membership.

C. AD HOC COMMITTEES

Ad Hoc committees will be established by the steering committee for the conduct of specific, limited-term activities. The chairperson of each ad hoc committee will be responsible for appointing all members of his/her committee and for ensuring that meeting minutes are forwarded to the library committee. The ad hoc committees may include, though not be limited to, the following:

1. Nominating committee

The nominating committee will be established to draw up a slate of nominees for the elected positions of the Tucson SPIN organization. The members of the nominating committee will be appointed no less than three (3) months ahead of the election meeting.

2. Sponsorship committee

The sponsorship committee will be established to establish or review the status of the current sponsorship of the Tucson SPIN organization. The members of the sponsorship committee will be appointed no less than three (3) months ahead of the end of the calendar meeting.

All elected committee members will be elected by the Tucson SPIN members for a term of one (1) year, or until their successors are elected. The term of office will coincide with the Tucson SPIN calendar year. Ad hoc committee members will serve only until they have fulfilled their mission.

An individual in an elected position may serve no more than four (4)consecutive terms in the same position. A two (2) term hiatus must ensue before the individual is once again eligible for the same position.

VII - DUES

All dues related issues will be determined by the steering committee.

VIII - TUCSON SPIN CALENDAR YEAR

The Tucson Spin calendar year will run from January 1 to December 31.

IX - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

A slate of nominations for the following offices will be presented by the nominating committee to the membership for vote at the election meeting:

Chairperson

Vice chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer

Steering committee at-large members (4)

Additional nominations for these offices will be accepted from the membership both prior to the election meeting and from the floor before the vote.

The elections will be conducted by secret ballot for contested offices.

The winner of the office will be determined by a simple majority vote among the participating members. No official business of the Tucson SPIN will be conducted unless a quorum of the organization is present. A quorum is defined to be at least ten (10) percent of the members.

Any elected officials can be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the steering committee.

X - MEETINGS

Meetings of the Tucson SPIN membership will take place regularly during the year at a site that is open and accessible to all members. An announcement for each membership meeting will be disseminated to all members in advance of the meeting.

The election meeting will be the last meeting of the Tucson SPIN calendar year.

XI - CHARTER REVISIONS

Charter revisions must be approved at membership meetings by a two-thirds(2/3) majority vote of the participants in the vote. At least ten (10) percent of the Tucson SPIN members must participate in the vote for the vote to be valid.

XII - DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION

Dissolution of the Tucson SPIN organization 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 organization for the purpose of taking this vote. 

Comments or suggestions about this page can be sent to (E-mail: info@tucsonspin.org)

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