Bylaws of the Southeast Chapter of the Ecological Society of America
As amended and accepted April 3, 2016
As amended April 16, 2004
As accepted 12 April 2002
As amended 3 April 2001
As amended and accepted 18 April 1997
As amended 15 April 1988
Accepted 14 April 1983
Article 1. NAME. The official name of the organization shall be “The Southeast Chapter of the Ecological Society of America”.
Article 2. PURPOSE. The objectives of this Chapter shall be to encourage ecological education and research and to sponsor meetings for the communication of education and research activities of special interest to ecologists in the Southeastern United States. The Chapter shall be a chapter of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and shall be governed in all of its operations by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.
Sub-article 2a. MEETINGS. The Chapter shall hold business meetings at annual meetings of either or both the ESA and the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB), with the members present constituting a quorum. Notice of the business meetings shall be given at least 30 days in advance by publication of a notice in the ESA Bulletin, Southeastern Biology, a Chapter newsletter, or the Chapter web page. Chapter meetings at other times and places may be organized at the call of the Executive Committee or when requested by 10 Chapter members.
Sub-article 2b. NEWSLETTER. A newsletter shall be published to call attention to Chapter business and to events occurring at the ESA and ASB annual meetings. Chapter news published in the ESA Bulletin or posted on the Chapter’s web page shall constitute fulfillment of this requirement.
Sub-article 2c. AWARDS. Annually, the Chapter shall give awards from each of its two award funds (Eugene P. Odum Award Fund, Elsie Quarterman-Catherine Keever Award Fund). The purpose of these funds is to encourage excellence in research by young ecologists. The two funds shall be administered and invested by the ESA Business Manager. Fund incomes shall be used each year to finance a suitable plaque and cash award to be given to the student applicant judged to have given the best presentation, as detailed below for each award, at the annual ASB meeting. An award recipient may be an undergraduate or graduate student, must be the sole or senior author, and must give the presentation. However, the recipient does not have to be an ESA or ASB member. Submissions by the same individual for both awards based on the same research project will not be accepted. Only the first author will be considered for an award. Applicants presenting papers with more than two authors may be asked to describe their specific contributions to the research.
Annually, the Chapter Chairperson shall appoint a panel Coordinator for each award. The panel Coordinators may serve as such in multiple consecutive years. The panel Coordinators will recruit judges individually or in conjunction with the Association of Southeastern Biologists Committee on Student Awards. The judging panels shall evaluate presentations on the basis of significance of ideas, creativity, quality of methodology, validity of results, and clarity of presentation. The two awards shall be presented at the ASB banquet, and the recipients shall be announced in the summer newsletter.
ODUM AWARD. The Odum Award is given to the student applicant judged to have presented the best oral paper on a clearly ecological topic. The oral paper must be presented in a regular contributed paper session or symposium and should represent a substantially completed project on original work.
QUARTERMAN-KEEVER AWARD. The Quarterman-Keever Award is given to the student applicant judged to have presented the best poster on a clearly ecological topic. The poster must be presented in person in a regular contributed poster session and should represent a substantially completed project on original work.
Article 3. MEMBERSHIP. Any ESA member may become a member of the Southeast Chapter by payment of the Chapter affiliation dues as set by ESA.
Article 4. OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS. The Chapter officers shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The Executive Committee will identify nominees who have consented to run for office. Officers shall be elected by a majority of members voting by electronic ballot two months prior to the end of an officer’s term in office. The terms of office shall be two years. After serving two years, the Vice-Chairperson will become the Chairperson for a two year term. If the Vice-Chairperson is unable to assume the duties as chair, the Executive Committee shall identify a nominee for Chairperson. The Secretary shall be eligible for reelection. Terms of office shall extend between national ESA meetings. Newly elected officers shall serve in an elect role until the next national ESA meeting. If necessary, a special election to replace officers unable to complete their terms may be held by e-mail or electronic ballot, with at least 30 days notice in advance and with those voting constituting a quorum.
Article 5. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRPERSON. The Chairperson shall preside at the Chapter business meetings at ESA and ASB, shall authorize expenditures of Chapter funds, and shall promote the Chapter’s interests in every reasonable way. The Chairperson shall represent the Chapter on the ESA Council, and shall appoint committees as required. Such committees shall serve until the next annual business meeting at ESA and may be reappointed at the Chairperson’s discretion. The Chairperson shall also appoint a webmaster to maintain the Chapter web page. If the Webmaster position is not filled, the Chairperson shall assume the duties of web page maintenance.
Article 6. DUTIES OF THE VICE-CHAIRPERSON. The Vice-Chairperson shall arrange, as appropriate, the scientific program, including field excursions, for all Chapter meetings. The Vice-Chairperson shall also assume the duties of the Chairperson whenever that person is unable to act.
Article 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep Chapter records, including minutes of the annual meetings, and shall communicate with the national office regarding chapter funds and finances. The Secretary shall publish and distribute a newsletter for communication of Chapter activities and provide materials to the webmaster for posting on the Chapter web page.
Article 8. WEBMASTER. A webmaster shall be appointed by the chairperson. The Webmaster shall maintain the Chapter web page, working closely with the Chapter officers. If the Webmaster position is not filled, the Chairperson shall assume the duties of web page maintenance.
Article 9. FINANCES. Necessary Chapter expenses shall be paid from the treasury of the ESA, but in no year shall the Chapter’s total expenses exceed the sum of the amount allotted for the Chapter in the annual ESA budget, plus the amount, if any, collected as dues by the ESA on the Chapter’s behalf. No Chapter officer or member shall have authority to incur expenses in the name of the ESA, except as specified in Article 5.
Article 10. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. An Executive Committee, consisting of the officers of the Chapter, may act on the Chapter’s behalf during intervals between annual meetings.
Article 11. AMENDMENTS. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members who vote via electronic ballot.