The official name of the society is Saudi Arabian Society for Composite Materials, which is abbreviated as SASCOM.

This society aims to create links between teachers, scientific researchers, engineers, industrial partners involved in the study, manufacture and use of composite materials, in particular to contribute to a mutual enrichment of studies, research and techniques in the disciplines concerned by the activities of the members.

SASCOM is a non-governmental and engineering organization established for Pedagogical, educational, scientific, research or training purposes. SACOM has the following specific objectives:

• To encourage the interchange of information on all aspects related to composite materials which of are interest to the scientific and engineering community,
• To provide a Middle-East wide forum for the discussion of such topics, e.g. by organizing the Saudi Arabian Conference on Composite Materials and more specialized symposia related to composites,
• To guide and foster the understanding and utilization of the science and technology of composite materials,
• To promote collaborations and educations related to composite materials,
• To foster an effective environment for innovation in the field of composite materials
• To issue recommendations and provide consultations and studies for both the private and public sectors in the field of expertise of the society.
• To invite scientists and scholars in the field of composite to the kingdom in accordance with government regulations
• To organize workshops and forums in the field of composite
• To organize scientific trips for society members
• To organize scientific competitions in the field of composites.

SASCOM founding Head Office is Room 2216, Building 4, KAUST Campus, 23955-6900 Thuwal, that corresponds to the work address of the founding Chairman, Prof. Gilles Lubineau, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of MCEM Laboratory, KAUST.

The action of the association is exercised by all the means at its disposal to achieve the goal pursued and in particular by:

• the organization of conferences, courses, national or international conferences,
• the publication of newsletters, journals, books and memoirs,
• the constitution of a library, a program library, archives scientific and technical documentation,
• the creation of prizes and awards, scholarships and study grants and study trips.

Membership shall be of three types:

Active membership:

1. The applicant must have a scientific degree or equivalent in the field of specialization of the Society.
2. To pay annual contributions.
3. What the Board deems necessary.
4. To be accepted by the Board of Directors decision.

Honorary Membership:

It should be granted by decision of the General Assembly to those who have contributed to the development of the areas of interest of the Assembly or provided financial or moral services. Therefore, the honorary member shall be exempted from the payment condition. It may attend the meetings of the General Assembly and its various committees and participate in the discussions.

Associate Membership:

1. University students in the field of Society’s specialty.
2. Workers and those interested in the field of society’s specialty who do not meet the requirement of scientific qualification specified for active membership.

The Associate Member shall be exempted from 50% of the annual subscription. It may attend the meetings of the General Assembly and its various committees and participate in the discussions without having the right to vote.

These members may be natural persons or legal persons. Legal persons may be represented in the Society by only one representative.

All members pay an annual fee of an amount set each year by the Board of Directors. The contribution may be different for individuals and legal entities and depending on the type of membership. The amount of the fee at the creation of the society are decided by the founding board.

All members acquire the following rights after payment of the membership:

• Right to vote and to attend the General Assembly,
• Receiving basic information on the activities of the society on a regular basis,

access to the financial records and documents at the Society’s headquarters.

Membership is approved by the Board of Directors or by delegation, by the chair, which, in case of refusal, does not have to make known the reasons. It can become effective only after the payment of an entry fee set by the Board of Directors and the contribution of the current year.

The membership in the Society shall be terminated in the following cases:

1. Withdrawal or death of the member.
2. If the annual contribution is not paid after one year from the maturity date.
3. If a condition of membership is missed.
4. If it undertakes any work or activity that causes material or moral damage to the Society.

The resources of the association include:

1. Annual subscriptions of members.
2. Revenues of the Society’s publications and periodicals and the services it provides within the limits of its objectives.
3. Revenues of courses and programs.
4. Donations and grants offered by universities, bodies and individuals.

1. The Board of Directors shall consist of not more than ten members, selected by the General Assembly by secret ballot from among its active members, provided that at least one third of them shall be members of the university that established the Society.
2. The term of membership of the Council is three years, renewable once.
3. If a member of the Board of Directors is absent from the Board meetings three times in a row without an acceptable excuse, the Board of Directors may be considered independent.
4. When a member of the Board of Directors selected by the General Assembly becomes vacant for some reason, the Board shall choose a replacement member; therefore, the approval of the General Assembly is required at its first meeting.
5. The Board of Directors shall be elected by secret ballot from its member a chairman for a period of three years, renewable once, provided that it is a member of the University, followed by the Society. Therefore, the Council also selects from its members two Vice-Chairperson, Secretary of the Council and a Treasurer.
6. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to represent the Society before third parties and shall act on its behalf in contacting the official and non-official bodies in the Kingdom and abroad in accordance with the prescribed statutory procedures, it is entitled to preside over the General Assembly. The Chairman convenes the meetings of the General Assembly and the meetings of the Board of Directors.
7. The secretary general is in charge of all that concerns the secretariat of the association. In particular, it ensures the execution of the prescribed formalities.
8. The treasurer is in charge of all that concerns the management of the association. He makes all payments and collects all revenues under the supervision of the Chairman. He keeps a regular accounting of all operations.

Terms of Reference of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall have the following competencies:

1. Propose the budget of the Society.
2. Preparing the agenda of the general assembly.
3. Propose the general policy of the Society within the framework of the objectives set forth in these rules and submit it to the General Assembly.
4. Propose the internal rules of the Society and organizing its work.
5. Forming committees and specialized groups to perform the tasks and activities of the Society.
6. Preparing the annual report of the Society’s activity and submitting it to the competent fields at the University after approval by the General Assembly.
7. Determining the annual subscriptions of the members.
8. Commissioning studies and research.
9. Approve the holding of seminars, courses and study groups in accordance with the relevant regulations.
10. Accept endowments, donations, grants and aids.

The Board of Directors holds a regular meeting every six months; its meeting shall be valid only with the approval of the majority of its members. It may hold extraordinary meetings, whenever requested by half of its members, or one-fifth of the members of the General Assembly or the Chairman of the Board of Directors. In this case, the meeting shall be confined to discussing the issues for which the Council was convened. Therefore, the decisions of the Board of Directors shall be issued by the majority of the votes of the attendees, when the votes are equal; the President of the Council’s vote shall be casting.

The Chairman can take emergency decision without full vote if needed for the sake of SASCOM.

The General Assembly of the society is made up of all members.

It meets whenever it is convened by the Chairman or at the request of at least a quarter of the members of the society. Any prevented member can give power of attorney to another member of the society (limited to one per member). The Board of Directors sets the agenda and the Assembly is lead by the Executive committee.

An attendance sheet is stamped and certified by the Chairman and the secretary general. The minutes of the General Assembly are drawn up by the secretary general, transcribed in a register and certified by the Chairman and the secretary general.

The convocation indicates the agenda. It hears the reports of the Board of Directors on the management and on the financial and moral situation of the association. It approves the accounts of the closed fiscal year, votes the budget of the following year, and finally it deliberates on the questions on the agenda. Decisions are taken by a simple majority of the votes validly cast by the members present or represented.

To deliberate validly, such a meeting must be composed of at least a quarter of the members of the society composing the General Assembly; this count is made on the present and represented members. If this quorum is not reached, the Assembly shall be convened again, at least 15 days apart, and at this new Assembly may deliberate validly regardless of the number of present members. The meeting rules by a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present and represented.

The company may have a scientific committee, whose role is to provide a high-level scientific council for the various actions of the company. When created, the chairman of the board of director chairs it. The chairman can then designate another chair for the scientific committee if relevant. He appoints the members of the scientific committee who can be national or international, academic or industry-related members.