GRA:About
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Guest Researcher Association Overview
The Guest Researcher Association (GRA) was formed in October 2000 by a voluntery international group of guest researchers at NIST. The goal of the Association is to help current and new guest researchers settle into Gaithersburg or Boulder by providing information on many topics including housing, social security, visas and health insurance.
We also provide the oppurtunity for members to share their experiences for the benefit of others. We do this in two, equally important ways; by means of this website (including a discussion forum) and by means of establishing a strong social network. We organize weekly and annual events such as soccer tournaments and hikes, and welcome new ideas for group activities. Membership in the GRA is FREE and gives access to services such as classifieds posting on the GRA website. We are a non-profit organization.
We encourage you to come to our meetings and participate in our activities. We especially ask you to think about running for a position on the GRA board as we are always looking for new people to replace those who leave NIST. Please contact us at gra(at)nist(dot)gov with any questions or comments you may have.
Enjoy your experience as a NIST Guest Researcher !
Feel free to create an account and help us building your community website !
2009 Chair
2008 Board
The Board,
Contact the GRA
By email: gra(at)nist(dot)gov
By phone: Martin 301-975-8228, Dennis 301-975-4546 or Fabien 301-975-XXXX
By mail:
Martin Weber, GRA President
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400
Guest Researcher Association FAQs
- What is GRA?
GRA is the Guest Researcher Association at NIST. It was created in 2001 by Marine Giraud who was a guest researcher at NIST/Gaithersburg from 2000 to 2002.
- Is GRA only for guest researchers?
Of course not, anyone at NIST may join the Association. We do primarily cater to guest researchers, but lots of NIST employees also find us a valuable resource.
- How much does it cost to be a member?
For now it's free, and will remain so for as long as we can manage, even though we have to pay for internet hosting and domain name. Contributions are always welcome!
- You seem very busy, can I help?
Yes, yes and yes! If you want to help, please email us and we will get in touch with you.
Guest Researcher Association - Comments From Current Board Members
When I arrived in the USA from the UK I didnt know anyone at all at NIST or in the USA. Moving countries and staring a new job / aspect of your studies can be daunting at the best of times, but having no-one to help you with the most basic requirements is tough. I found the GRA to be a lot of help to me back then in 2004, they had a lot of advice for me about accomadation, insurance, social security and many other topics that I needed to know about in order to settle into my new life over here.
Through the GRA I have also made a number of good friends from all over the world, infact I am still making them now! Every happy hour or lunch that we have I meet at least one new person. I think this is an excellent aspect of the association as we have so much diversity in our members and in the GRA board itself. You will not find this diversity in many future places of employment and it is one of the aspects of NIST that is unique and should be rejoiced. Although our association is very diverse we still have many things in common - many of us are here on visas from other countries, we are all in similar fields of work / research, many of us are in the same stages of our career and have the same future goals. These similarites simulate much conversation and feeling of cammaraderie between our members. It also allows people who are knew to NIST and to the area to feel a little more at home in their surroundings.
I believe that the association is a valuable resource especially to all guest research staff at NIST and I am very passionate about my current role as president. Saying that, I also think that the association is helpful to those at NIST who are from the USA - the website is very informative (including travel tips on places in and out of the USA) and our social events are not exclusively for foriegn nationals.
We have a dedicated group of people on the board who spend part to their free time helping to arrange social events and update the web-site to keep the association running smoothly. Working on the GRA board and helping to run events is a very rewarding job to be doing. There is a lot of work involved and we are always looking for new people with new ideas to volunteer to help us make the association flourish.
In closing, I would like to say that the GRA is and has been a important part of my time here at NIST and I think that the success of the association is important for many reasons, but especially for the assistance of those who are new to the USA and to NIST. For those of you who are attending events and especially those who are helping to keep the assciation running - keep up the good work!
Thanks Susan (President of the GRA February till August 2006)
Bylaws
GUEST RESEARCHER ASSOCIATION. (G.R.A) BYLAWS
ARTICLE 1. NAME
Section 1: Name.
1.1.1 This organization will be known as the Guest Researchers Association (GRA).GRA
is a Non-Profit Organization.
ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE AND GOALS
Section 1: Purpose.
2.1.1 To represent the interests and concerns of NIST's guest researchers.
Section 2: Goals
To implement the stated purpose, GRA shall seek to:
2.2.1 Advise NIST's employees and managers about issues of concern to guest
researchers in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs.
2.2.2 Provide information addressing specific needs and concerns of guest researchers. For example: lodging, transportation. Facilitate communication among guest researchers and also between guest researchers and NIST employees,
Post docs, Contractors.
2.2.3 Cooperate with other NIST and Federal employee organizations in pursuit of common diversity
objectives.
2.2.4 Facilitate good work relationships among Agency employees and guest researchers.
2.2.5 Foster social, entertainment and recreational events, cultural and educational pursuits, and professional development that will enhance the well being and productivity of every guest researcher.
2.2.6 GRA shall maintain a close, cooperative relationship with NIST and furnish as requested full information on all aspects of its organization, activities, conditions, and finances in order that the agency may be assured that the requirements of DAO 202-707 are met on a continuing basis.
ARTICLE 3. POLICY
Section 1: Policies
3.1.1 GRA shall not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental
disability, or sexual orientation.
3.1.2. The activities, programs, products, or services of GRA shall not be represented, directly or indirectly, as official functions
or activities of the Department, NIST, or any official thereof.
3.1.3 Official policy statements of GRA must be in writing and must be approved by a simple majority vote of the Executive Council. The statements of individual members
of NIST GRA do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the organization.
ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership
4.1.1 Although GRA focuses on guest researchers issues, membership and participation shall be open to all active and former NIST employees and workers, including contracted employees, visiting scientists, students and post-doctorates, interested in advancing the goals of GRA, as set
forth in Article 2.
4.1.2 Official members of GRA are members whose names appear on the official membership list. Only official members may vote or be elected
to the Executive Council.
4.1.3 Honorary membership may be conferred by a simple majority vote of official members attending a general meeting. Honorary members are non-voting
members.
4.1.4 The official membership list will contain only the names of those official and honorary members who are aware that this membership list is public information and consent in writing to their inclusion thereon. The membership list shall be held
in the custody of the Executive Council.
Section 2: Dues
4.2.1 GRA shall be a secular nonprofit, nonpartisan, and noncommercial
organization that may be supported by dues and contributions.
4.2.2 GRA shall be organized to conduct activities of interest
common to its general membership and shall expend its funds for that purpose.
ARTICLE 5. OFFICERS
Section 1: Executive Council
5.1.1 The function of the Executive Council shall be to act on matters in which GRA has an interest, provide counsel to its members, and
set general policy.
5.1.2 The Executive Council of GRA will consist of five members, who are currently working at NIST. The Executive Council will elect a Chair,
Secretary, and Treasurer from the members of the executive council.
5.1.3 The officers of GRA shall be elected for a term of six months, they should hold office until successors are duly elected or appointed. In the event a member of the Executive Board is not able to perform his or her duties, the other members of the Executive Board shall propose a replacement until the next election. Five persons or ten percents of the members, whichever is higher, may object the nomination within two weeks
following the nomination.
5.1.4 When a member of the Executive Council resigns or ceases employment at NIST, she or he shall
provide a written notice of resignation to the Executive Council.
5.1.5 A majority vote in the Executive Council will be required for a motion to prevail. A quorum
of the Executive Council will consist of three members.
5.1.6 The Executive Council shall conduct meetings in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
Section 2: Officers
5.2.1 The Executive Council Chair shall: preside at all meetings, call all special meetings, represent GRA at meetings with officials of NIST or with other organizations, serve ex officio on all standing committees of GRA, present reports of any officers or committee chairpersons who are unable to be present at meetings requiring their delivery, and be responsible for coordinating all committee activities. The Chair shall determine the agenda for all Executive Council meetings. The Chair shall appoint all committees and their chairs, and shall define the duties of each. Such appointments shall be submitted to the Executive Council for approval.
The Chair shall seek tax exempt identification for GRA if needed.
5.2.2 The Executive Council Secretary shall: record and maintain all meeting minutes and all GRA records, reports and documents, and serve as official correspondent for GRA, unless the Executive Council Chair
assigns that function to someone else for a special purpose.
5.2.3 The Executive Council Treasurer shall receive and dispense all funds for activities requiring monies, maintain an account at a financial institution, keep sufficiently accurate financial and tax records, and provide a financial report at the bi annual GRA meeting. In the event that receipts to the treasury exceed $500 the treasurer will be duly bonded in accordance with DAO 202-707,
Section 3.g.2.
5.2.4 An independent Auditing Committee of members shall be elected annually by the general membership at the annual meeting, and shall actively supervise and ensure
the safe and authorized handling of finances.
ARTICLE 6. ELECTIONS Section 1: Elections
6.1.1 GRA shall elect members of the Executive Council and the Auditing Committee for six months. The elections will occur within two
weeks following the bi-annual meeting.
6.1.2 GRA official members shall nominate Executive Council members and three members of the Auditing Committee from among themselves. The Executive Council members and Auditing Committee members shall be nominated and elected by a simple majority vote of members participating to the elections
or by absentee proxies.
6.1.3 The slate of Executive Council candidates will be distributed to GRA members at least two weeks prior to the elections along with the details of the election process. The slate shall be presented formally at the bi-annual meeting. The bi-annual meeting shall be held in October and March. Nominations for members of the Executive Council must be made in writing at least three weeks prior to the bi-annual meeting, or from the floor during the meeting. The members
of the Auditing Committee shall be nominated from the floor.
6.1.4 Installation of members of the Executive Council shall take place at the first general
meeting.
6.1.5 GRA officers shall be nominated and installed at the first meeting of the Executive
Council.
ARTICLE 7. MEETINGS
7.1.1 General meetings shall be held every month and will be open to any NIST worker. Other meetings may be held as needed and authorized by the Executive Council to discuss special issues identified at general meetings. There shall be a bi-annual meeting of GRA in October and March of each year, in lieu of that months' general meeting, at a time and place set by the Executive Council. All
members shall be notified of this meeting in a timely manner.
7.1.2 The Executive Council Chair shall have the authority to conduct, or shall designate authority to conduct, all meetings, with the results
of such meetings to be reported at general meetings.
7.1.3 A quorum for the bi-annual meeting or for meetings expressly designated for approval of amendments to the by-laws will be 30 percent of the active members or ten persons, whichever is less, voting in person
or with a proxy.
ARTICLE 8. AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Amendments
8.1.1 Any amendments or changes to these Bylaws must be approved by a two-thirds vote of official members present at the annual meeting or at meetings expressly designated for approval of amendments. GRA members
will be notified in advance of the meeting by the Executive Council.
