Mel Baron Award Charter

1) The Award was financed by a grant from Weidlinger Associates Inc. The grant was used to purchase the silver medallions that are part of the Award.

2) The Award Committee consisted initially of seven prominent members from the shock and vibration community who were appointed annually and who selected the first six Mel Baron Award recipients. The Committee membership has been changed to take advantage of these Mel Baron Award recipients.  The Award Committee shall now consist of up to three recipients of the Mel Baron Award, and up to three prominent members of the SAVIAC community.  The SAVIAC Director shall appoint each member annually, and will choose one of the members to Chair the Award Committee. 

3) The Award Committee, in conjunction with the SAVIAC Program Manager, shall solicit nominations for the Award from the community.  Each nomination must be accompanied by supporting evidence of qualifications.  These nominations will be submitted to the Award Committee who will make a final recommendation to the SAVIAC Director  based on majority vote.  Tie votes will be broken by the vote of the SAVIAC Director.  The Award Committee may make no Award recommendation if no suitable nominations are received.  The SAVIAC Director will accept the recommendation of the Committee, or will choose to forgo awarding a recipient. 

4) The Award shall consist of a silver medallion displaying the likeness of Mel Baron on the obverse side, and the name of the recipient and the year awarded on the reverse side, and a wood box to display the medal.  A plaque displaying the name of the recipient and the year of the Award will accompany the medallion. The Award will be presented at the annual Shock and Vibration Symposium.

5) Upon a majority vote, the Award Committee may recommend amendments to the Governing Charter to the SAVIAC Director for acceptance or rejection.  If accepted, the Charter will be changed to reflect the recommendations of the Committee.