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The Ecological Society of America
Long Range Plan
Promotion of the science of ecology is the central activity of the ESA. This is accomplished by fostering basic and applied research, making the results of that work available to practitioners and decision-makers, and providing information about the science of ecology to the public.
Goal 1. Improve Ecological Science and its Application - To foster ecological research, development, and applications
1.1 Promote and recognize excellence in ecological science
1.2 Improve relevance and utility in ecological sciences
1.3 Recognize and promote the integration of multiple approaches to ecological science
1.4 Promote opportunities for ecologists to learn new ideas and techniques in ecology
and related fields
1.5 Increase the diversity of ecologists, including representation of cultural, ethnic, gender, intellectual and disciplinary perspectives, and persons with disabilities
Goal 2: Improve Communication - To promote ecological science by improving communication among ecologists and other specialists.
2.1 Maintain the health and broaden the use of the Society’s publications
2.2 Promote communication among the community of international ecologists
Visions Priority: foster international collaborations among ecological societies (e.g. Federation of the Americas, expand to Asia and Europe)
2.3 Increase communication between members and the Society’s staff and leadership, and among the Society’s sections, chapters, and committees
2.4 Increase the breadth of areas of ecology that are included within journals and meetings
2.5 Continue to improve the effectiveness of annual meetings
2.6 Facilitate two-way communication between ecologists and users of our science
Goal 3: Enhance Education and Public Awareness - Engage the public in a dialogue on environmental issues and improve ecological education at all levels
3.1 Contribute to ecological curricula and instruction in formal and informal educational settings.
3.2 Develop collaborations and partnerships with groups of environmental and science educators
3.3 Increase within the Society recognition of the value of educational activities
3.4 Increase and promote the understanding of ecological science among the public.
Visions Priority: develop a regional initiative to bring issues of ecological sustainability before the public
Goal 4: Increase Resources - To increase the resources available for the conduct of ecological science
4.1 Identify current and potential sources of funding to support ecological science and our Society.
4.2 Develop new and cultivate existing sources of funding for ecological science and our Society.
4.3 Identify, prioritize and promote emerging research and education initiatives
4.4 Promote interdisciplinary work
4.5 Increase the number of members having active involvement in the Society, beyond the publication and presentation of papers
Goal 5: Inform Policy - To improve interactions between ecologists and policy-makers in formulating and evaluating policy.
5.1 Raise awareness among ESA members of the value and importance of enhancing communication with policy makers, decision makers, and decision implementers.
5.2 Increase the number of ecologists who participate in policy development and implementation.
5.3 Be a prime source of ecological information for policy development and implementation
5.4 Promote the inclusion of ecological science in decision making and implementation
5.5 Promote the objective and responsible use of science
Visions Priority: develop Rapid Response Teams to provide input on legislation and regulation
(also addresses 5.1 through 5.5)
Long Range Plan Revised November 2001
Visions Report priorities indicated in italics September 2004 as amended in 2005
BY-LAWS OF THE AGROECOLOGY SECTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Article 1. NAME. The official name of this section shall be the "Agroecology Section."
Article 2. PURPOSE. The objectives of this Section shall be to promote an understanding of the importance of the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems among ecologists, agriculturists, and members of related disciplines, to encourage education and research in agroecology, to sponsor meetings and publications for the communication of research and educational activities in agroecology, and to increase student participation in the Society. The Agroecology Section shall be a sub-division of the Ecological Society of America and shall be governed in all of its operations by the Constitution and By-Laws of that Society.
Article 3. MEMBERSHIP. Any member of any class of the Ecological Society of America who desires may become a member of the Agroecology Section. The only requirement is payment of current dues set by the Council of the Society. Members of the chapter shall remain in good standing until they request to terminate their affiliation or until they terminate their membership (i.e., dues lapse) in the Ecological Society of America or the Agroecology Section.
Article 4. OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS. The officers of the section shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary. Any member in good standing shall be eligible for nomination as an officer. The Chairperson will appoint a three-member nominating committee to select candidates for office. Nominees shall be elected by a majority vote of the members at the annual business meeting. If members are not able to attend the business meeting, mail-in or e-mail ballots will be available on-request.
Article 5. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRPERSON. The Chairperson will preside at the business meeting of the Section, shall authorize expenditures of Section funds, and shall promote, in every reasonable way, the interests of the Section. The Chairperson shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-election. The Chairperson shall represent the Section to the Council of the Society and shall appoint committees as required to promote the interests of the Section. Such committees shall serve until the next annual meeting of the Section and may be re-appointed at the discretion of the Chairperson. The Chairperson will provide an annual update of Section activities and expenses to members through a newsletter which may be published separately or in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America.
Article 6. DUTIES OF THE VICE-CHAIRPERSON. The Vice-Chairperson shall arrange the scientific program, including the field excursions, for all meetings of the Section and shall assume the duties of the Chairperson whenever that person is unable to act. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-election.
Article 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep the records of the Section, including a current membership, and mailing list. The Secretary shall edit a newsletter or articles for the communication of Section activities. The Secretary shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-election.
Article 8. EXPENSES. Necessary expenses of the Section shall be paid from the treasury of the Section, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Section exceed the amount allotted for this purpose in the annual budget of the Society. No officer or member of the Section shall have authority to incur expenses in the name of the Society, except as specified above.
Article 9. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A Section Executive Committee, consisting of officers of the Section, may act on behalf of the Section during intervals between annual meetings.
Article 10. MEETINGS. The Section shall either meet with the Society at their annual meeting or may organize Section meetings at other times and places at the call of the Executive Committee or when requested by ten members of the Section. Meetings held independently will be summarized within the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America as a separate meeting review or within the Section's newsletter. A business meeting of the Section shall be held at the annual meeting and the members present shall constitute a quorum. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given each member of the Section at least 60 days in advance of each annual meeting. It is understood that publication of a notice of the meeting in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America shall constitute adequate notice.
Article 11. NEWSLETTER. The newsletter shall be published at least once each year and shall include a call for papers, symposium contributions and other Section business that requires the attention of the membership prior to the annual meeting. A current list of Section members shall be available to the membership by request from the Section Secretary.
Article 12. AMENDMENTS. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members attending any annual meeting of the Section, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been supplied to the members of the Section at least 60 days prior to the annual meeting date.
PROPOSED STATEMENT FOR THE CONSTITUTION
THE AGROECOLOGY SECTION. The official name of this section shall be the Agroecology Section. The Agroecology Section shall include any member of any class of the Ecological Society of America who requests affiliation. The objectives of the Section are to encourage education, research and communication in all aspects directly pertaining to and related to agroecology. The Section will meet annually with the Society or independently. Necessary expenses will be paid by the Society within limits of an approved budget.
Signatures obtained from the following people in support of a new Section, Agroecology
Martha Rosemeyer, University of Wisconson
Marc Los Huertos, University of California, Santa Cruz
Paul Adler, USDA-ARS
Deborah Neher, University of Toledo
Tiffany Bensen, University of California, Davis (will join ESA if there is an Agroecology Section)
Vicky Meretsky, Indiana University
Mohsen S. Tadros, Tanta University, El-Sheikh, Egypt
Steve Gliessman, University of California, Santa Cruz
Erle Ellis, University of California, Santa Cruz
Jean-Luc Jannink, University of Minnesota (will join ESA if there is an Agroecology Section)
Claire Rutledge, University of Idaho
Jennifer L. Doles, University of Northern Colorado
Margaret Walsh, Colorado State University
Jose M. Paruelo, University de Buenos Aires
Chris Picone, University of Michigan
Rachel O'Malley, San Jose State University
Matt Liebman, Iowa State University
Peter Lesica, Missoula, Montana
Alison Power, Cornell University
John E. Banks, University of Washington, Tacoma
Paul Marino, University of Charleston, South Carolina
Fabian Menalled, Michigan State University
Stuart Ketcham, University of Virgin Islands
Robert Matlock, La Selva OTS
Kathleen Keiler, University of Nebraska
Diane Thomson, University of California, Santa Cruz