AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
WESTERN DIVISION
BYLAWS
of the
ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO CHAPTER
pdf version
Section 1. NAME AND OBJECTIVES
(a) The name of the organization shall be the Arizona/New Mexico Chapter of the American Fisheries Society; hereinafter referred to as the Chapter.
(b) The objectives of the Chapter shall be those of the American Fisheries Society as set forth in Article I of the Constitution, and especially, to encourage the exchange of regional fisheries and other technical information among members of the Society who belong to the Chapter.
(c) All activities of this subunit shall conform to the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, Rules, and Policies.
Section 2. MEMBERSHIP
(a) The membership of the chapter shall be composed of those Active and Affiliate Members of the American Fisheries Society who have an interest in fisheries and related issues of importance to the States of Arizona and New Mexico, and have paid the Chapter dues for the annual calendar year. Affiliate members are individuals who have paid the Chapter dues but have not paid the annual membership dues to the Society.
(b) In accordance with the Constitution of the Society, only Active AFS members may hold office, serve as committee chairs, or vote on Chapter business.
(c) Members of the Arizona State University, New Mexico State University, and University of Arizona student Subunits shall be recognized as Chapter members.
Section 3. MEETINGS
The Chapter shall hold at least one meeting annually at a time and place designated by its Executive Committee.
Section 4. OFFICERS
(a) The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, President-elect, Past-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer, although the latter position may be split by two people.
(b) The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting or by mail ballot received by members with at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting; however, terms of newly elected officers shall coincide with those of the Parent Society officers. The Secretary-Treasurer may hold office for a period longer than one year, but the term of the other officers shall be one year. In case of the vacated position, the Executive Committee shall appoint a qualified replacement to fill an unexpired term.
(c) In the event of a cancellation of an annual meeting, the officers and the members of any committee shall continue to serve until the next scheduled meeting.
Section 5. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
(a) The President of the Chapter shall preside at all meetings, chair the Executive Committee, and serve as a voting member of the Division’s Executive Committee and a non-voting member of the Society’s Governing Board, and shall make such appointments and perform other duties and functions as authorized by the Chapter’s Executive Committee.
(b) The President-elect shall chair the Program Committee and shall assume the duties of the President if the latter is unable to act.
Section 6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the Chapter shall consist of elected officers, the immediate Past President, and other members as may be appointed by the President. The Executive Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the Chapter between annual meetings and to perform appropriate duties and functions.
Section 7. CHAPTER COMMITTEES
Committees and their Chairs, except as listed in Section 5 and 6 of these Bylaws, may be appointed and charged by the President. The term of office for members of Chapter Committees shall end upon the discharge of the duties for which they were appointed, or at the next annual meeting of the Chapter, whichever comes first.
Section 8. VOTING AND QUORUM
(a) Decisions at meetings of the Chapter shall be by simple majority vote, except for Bylaw revisions or as otherwise specified in the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
(b) A quorum at any meeting for transaction of official business shall be one fourth of the Chapter membership or 20 Chapter Active members, whichever is smaller.
(c) Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws of the Constitution of the Society, meetings are conducted according to the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 9. DUES AND FEES
(a) The Executive Committee shall establish annual dues subject to approval of the members voting at the annual meeting.
(b) The Executive Committee may assess each registrant attending annual meetings of the Chapter a registration fee necessary to cover the costs of the meeting and Chapter activities. Collections shall be made by the Secretary-Treasurer and disbursements shall be made for financing the Chapter operations, as may be directed by the membership or by authorization of the Executive Committee.
Section 10. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
(a) The Bylaws of the Chapter may be amended by a two-thirds majority approval of those members voting, provided the notice of the proposed change(s) be given to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting. If voting is by mail ballot, members must be given at least 30 days to return their ballots.
(b) Following approval by the Chapter membership, bylaw amendments must be submitted to the Executive Director at least 45 days before the next meeting of the Society’s Governing Board.
(c) Bylaw amendments shall not be implemented until they have been approved by the Society’s Governing Board and notification has been received from the Executive Director.
Bylaws approved by the AFS Governing Board in 2007
Changes made in 2007 to reflect Student Subunit Membership
This document copied 2/5/2008 by A. Unthank
Updated bylaws approved by the Chapter membership at the 2/7/2008 business meeting
Submitted to Gwen White of AFS parent society on 7/13/2008 for approval at the 2008 Governing Board meeting