HISTORY OF IMAC AND THE ADVISORY BOARD 1982 - PRESENT

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, technical advances in fast fourier transform equipment coupled with personal computers propelled the interest of modal analysis as an analytical tool. It was then possible to collect and analyze many channels of data simultaneously, which gave the experimentalist a whole new way to understand and solve vibration and dynamics problems.

In 1981, two General Electric engineers, Dominick DeMichele and Peter Juhl recognized the need to organize the modal community within one specific event. With the initial help of Union College (Schenectady, New York), these two men organized the first IMAC in 1982 in Orlando, Florida. It was an immediate success, as it brought together an active group of international scientists, engineers and hardware and software professionals. An advisory Board was established in 1982.

SEM, which had an active Modal Analysis/Dynamic Systems Division, became permanently involved in the organization and management of IMAC by 1988. Mr. DeMichele remained the IMAC Director for 13 years and assisted in assembling the program up until his death. Mr. Juhl retired from IMAC in 1984. Al Wicks, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, assumed the role of Technical Director Chair in 1995.

1. ORIGIN OF THE ADVISORY BOARD
During the initial planning for IMAC, the organizers quite understandably sought the support and advice of the leading United States and International individuals working in the field of modal testing and analysis.

These selected individuals then became the IMAC Advisory Board in 1982. Their function was to provide to the IMAC staff advice, suggestions and support in the planning, promotion and administration of the technical program for the annual IMAC Conference.

The prestige and recognition of the IMAC Advisory Board by the modal community has been a major factor in the continued success of IMAC.

Since 1982, the recognition and support given to IMAC by the universities, industry and government agencies as the foremost international Conference devoted to modal testing and analysis has also been tantamount to its success.

CURRENT IMAC ADVISORY BOARD
 
Mark H. Richardson, Chairman
Vibrant Technology, Inc., USA

Peter Avitabile
University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Randall J. Allemang
University of Cincinnati, USA

David L. Brown
University of Cincinnati, USA

Thomas G. Carne
Sandia National Laboratories, USA

David J. Ewins
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, England

Francois Hemez
Los Alamos National Laboratory

David L. Hunt
ATA Engineering, Inc, USA

Daniel Inman
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Thomas Lagö
Acticut International AB, USA

Richard Pappa
NASA Langley Research Center

Katherine M. Ramsay, Secretary
Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc., USA

Lingmi Zhang
Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, P.R. China

Carlos Ventura
University of British Columbia, Canada

2. SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL MECHAINCS

In 1987 SEM jointly sponsored IMAC with Union College for the first time. This joint sponsorship continued until 1991 when SEM assumed total responsibility for the organization and management of IMAC and Union College agreed to the role of consulting partner. In 1996 Union College ceased any participation with IMAC.

In 1995 Dick DeMichele resigned as IMAC Technical Director and Al Wicks assumed the position. Al Wicks, current Technical Director, worked closely with Dick DeMichele in planning the IMAC Conference, up until Dick's recent death.

SEM provides the financial backing and administrative staff for organizing and promoting the IMAC conferences. Staff is directly responsible to the SEM Executive Board policies for the prudent financial management of IMAC. Due to the special nature of this arrangement, the IMAC Advisory Board has no binding voice in financial matters. This arrangement absolves any Advisory Board member from a suit involving financial mismanagement by SEM.

3. DUTIES OF THE IMAC ADVISORY BOARD

3.1 Provide to the IMAC staff advice, suggestions and support in the planning, promotion and administration of the technical program of the annual IMAC Conference.

3.2 Members of the IMAC Advisory Board shall be available for advice, suggestions, support and promotion at the discretion of the Technical Director through communication by letter, email, telephone or fax.

3.3 Members of the IMAC Advisory Board shall meet a minimum of once within a 12-month period.

4. PROFILE OF THE IMAC ADVISORY BOARD

4.1 The IMAC Advisory Board shall consist of not more than 15 members including a representative from SEM. Since IMAC is international in scope, members should represent a wide cross section of countries involved. There should also be an attempt to maintain a balance between industry, academe and government

4.2 The IMAC Advisory Board shall have a chairperson and a secretary who may serve for an unspecified term. These two (2) positions are elected by a majority vote of the Board members in good standing. Notification of any voter for these positions must be made in writing at least 30 days prior to a regularly scheduled advisory Board meeting. All voting must be "in person" and there must be not less than nine (9) members present to satisfy a quorum. Proxies are not permitted.

4.3 The chairperson will preside over the meeting based upon an agenda submitted in writing by the secretary. The members must approve the agenda items. The chairperson may vote on motions.

4.4 The secretary will keep a written record of the IMAC Advisory Board meetings. Attendance records will also be maintained. SEM shall keep such records on file.

4.5 Membership is based upon personal identification and not that of his or her organization. When a member is unable to attend a meeting or leaves his or her job, his or her position on the board does not automatically pass on to a colleague, nor will there be substitutes for members at Board meetings.

4.6 The Board shall meet a minimum of once within a 12 month period.

5. NOMINATING AND REPLACING MEMBERS OF THE IMAC ADVISORY BOARD

5.1 VACANCY

A vacancy can occur for the following reasons:

5.1.1. A formal resignation.
5.1.2. A member has missed two (2) consecutive meetings and is removed automatically by default.

5.2 NOMINATION

Only an existing Board member may nominate an individual. A written submission to the secretary must be received 30 days in advance of a regularly scheduled meeting. The petition must include the following:

5.2.1. A short description of the person's technical and professional background.
5.2.2. A brief narrative on the individual's qualifications and how they would be an asset as a member of the IMAC Advisory Board and proving leadership in planning and promoting the success of the IMAC Conference.
5.2.3.The signatures of at least four (4) IMAC Advisory Board members.

5.3 VOTING AND NOTIFICATION

A vote will be conducted by secret written ballot with at least 2/3 of the votes in favor of the nomination.

5.3.1. The secretary will notify successful nominees in writing and the position will take effect upon the secretary receiving the nominee's written acceptance.

5.4 REINSTATEMENT TO THE IMAC ADVISORY BOARD:

5.4.1. Eligibility:

A Board member is eligible for reinstatement to the Advisory Board only during the 12 months following the last Board meeting at which his or her membership expired. If the length of time is greater than 12 months, the nomination process must be followed.

5.4.2. Procedure
A. The Board member must submit written notice requesting reinstatement to the Advisory Board, including confirmation of 4 current Advisory Board members to support reinstatement.
B. Submission to the secretary can be received at any time but must be received 30 days in advance of the next annual scheduled meeting.
C. A vote will be conducted by secret written ballot with at least 2/3 of the votes in favor of the reinstatement.

If submission is received within 4 months of the last meeting (February 4 – June 4) the request will be processed and voted on before 5 July and notification by 5 August. If submission is received after June 4, notification will be sent to the candidate after the annual meeting.

5.4.3. Reinstatement

Reinstatement will take immediate effect upon receiving 2/3 affirmative votes of the Board.

5.4.4. Confirmation

The member requesting reinstatement must be present at the next meeting of the Advisory Board to confirm reinstatement to the Advisory Board. Otherwise, reinstatement is forfeited.