The International Branch Governing Board is proposing changes to the Bylaws of the Branch to be voted on by the membership during the 2018 summer elections. The rationale for the changes follows below. The proposed changes have been approved by the ESA IB Governing Board.
Article III - Membership
Rationale:
The original wording associated with eligibility of membership in the International Branch implied that members located in Canada and Mexico could not choose the IB as their primary branch, which is incorrect. Eliminating reference to Canada and Mexico in the description of Branch territory in the IB Bylaws is not a possible solution at this time, as residents of certain Canadian provinces and Mexican states are automatically included in the territory of other ESA branches. In the modified bylaws (below), we have simplified the description of the geographic region from which members are automatically assigned to the IB in Article III Section 2. We have also added that anyone can elect to be a member of the IB in Article III Section 3, which will align the Branch Bylaws with those of the parent Society.
Current Text:
Section 2. Membership in this Branch shall be restricted to members of the Entomological Society of America who reside outside the following areas: United States, Canada, Mexico, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Johnston Atoll, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Midway Islands, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and Wake Island.
Section 3. In accordance with the ESA Bylaws, members of ESA who reside in the geographical area of another branch may elect to become a member of the International Branch by notice to the ESA Executive Director. A member may belong to only one Branch.
Proposed Text (in italics):
Section 2. Membership in this Branch shall include members in good standing who reside outside of the United States and its territories, Canada, and Mexico.
Section 3. Any member of the parent Society in good standing who resides within the Branch area, or who resides outside the boundaries of the Branch area and elects membership in the Branch, may be a member of the Branch.
Article IV - Governing Board
Rationale:
The International Branch Governing Board is in support of adding a new governing board position dedicated to representation of Early Career Professionals (ECP). Analysis of ESA membership demographics has found a drop-off in membership as student members graduate and transition to full members. Continuation of membership from student to regular member is now facilitated through the Student Transition and Early Professional membership categories, collectively referred to as Early Career Professionals or ECPs. We are proposing that an ECP Member-at-Large position be created on the IB Governing Goard to provide opportunity for ECP involvement in International Branch governance, and to allow for the needs of ECPs to be represented at the Branch level. In addition, the ECP member will support the development of branch activities such as the annual Branch meeting. In order to achieve this change, the Bylaws surrounding the Governing Board (Article IV) need to be changed (below).
Current Text - Section 2:
The Governing Board shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Past President and a Representative to the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America. No person may hold more than one office at the same time.
Proposed Text - Section 2 (in italics):
The Governing Board shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Past President, a Representative to the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America, and an Early Career Professional Member-at-Large. No person may hold more than one office at the same time.
Current Text - Section 3:
Qualifications. Members of the Governing Board must be regular members of the Society.
Proposed Text - Section 3 (in italics):
Qualifications. Members of the Governing Board must be members in good standing of the Society and the Branch.
Current Text - Section 4:
Election and Term of Office.
A. Governing Board members are elected by the membership of the Branch. With the exception of the Branch Representative to the Entomological Society of America, terms of office begin at the close of the Annual Business Meeting following election.
B. Elections shall be conducted electronically and shall be held at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The names and biographies of all candidates shall be transmitted to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the opening of the election. Winners of the election shall be decided by plurality.
C. The President shall serve for one year, and shall then become Past President for one year.
D. The President-Elect shall serve for one year, and shall then become President for one year.
E. The Secretary shall serve for three years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
F. The Treasurer shall serve for three years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
G. In accordance with the ESA Bylaws, the Branch Representative to the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America shall serve for three years and, may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
H. The first Governing Board shall be elected by a plurality of Branch members in attendance and voting at the Organizational Meeting of the International Branch held at the ESA Annual Meeting in December 2009 in Indianapolis.
Proposed Text - Section 4 (in italics):
Election and Term of Office.
A. Governing Board members are elected by the membership of the Branch. With the exception of the Branch Representative to the Entomological Society of America, terms of office begin at the close of the Annual Business Meeting following election.
B. Elections shall be conducted electronically and shall be held at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The names and biographies of all candidates shall be transmitted to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the opening of the election. Winners of the election shall be decided by plurality.
C. The President shall serve for one year, and shall then become Past President for one year.
D. The President-Elect shall serve for one year, and shall then become President for one year.
E. The Secretary shall serve for three years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
F. The Treasurer shall serve for three years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
G. In accordance with the ESA Bylaws, the Branch Representative to the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America shall serve for three years and, may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
H. The Early Career Professional Member-at-Large shall serve for two years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Early Career Professional Member-at-Large must have Student Transition or Early Professional Member status with the parent Society at the time of nomination and election.
Current Text - Section 5:
Duties and Responsibilities.
A. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Branch and shall preside at business meetings, Governing Board meetings, and any other meetings. The President shall perform the duties prescribed in the Bylaws using the parliamentary authority adopted by the Branch, including the appointment of representatives or delegates to such scientific, professional, or other organizations as may be appropriate.
B. The President-Elect shall preside at business meetings, Governing Board meetings, and other meetings whenever the President is unable to serve. In the case of vacancy or the inability of the President to serve, the President-Elect shall serve for the remainder of the term and then succeed to a full term as President.
C. The Secretary shall take and keep the minutes of all meetings of the Branch and of the Governing Board and shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Governing Board.
D. The Treasurer is the financial officer of the Branch and shall have custody of the all accounts, securities, property, and records of the Branch; and shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Governing Board.
E. The Past President shall serve as an advisor and consultant to the President to provide continuity in the development and implementation of long-term policies of the Branch. A vacancy in the office of Past President shall be filled from the roster of willing former Presidents of the Branch by ballot of the Governing Board.
F. The Branch Representative to the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America shall represent the Branch on the ESA Governing Board.
Proposed Text - Section 5 (in italics):
A. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Branch and shall preside at business meetings, Governing Board meetings, and any other meetings. The President shall perform the duties prescribed in the Bylaws using the parliamentary authority adopted by the Branch, including the appointment of representatives or delegates to such scientific, professional, or other organizations as may be appropriate.
B. The President-Elect shall preside at business meetings, Governing Board meetings, and other meetings whenever the President is unable to serve. In the case of vacancy or the inability of the President to serve, the President-Elect shall serve for the remainder of the term and then succeed to a full term as President.
C. The Secretary shall take and keep the minutes of all meetings of the Branch and of the Governing Board and shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Governing Board.
D. The Treasurer is the financial officer of the Branch and shall have custody of the all accounts, securities, property, and records of the Branch; and shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Governing Board.
E. The Past President shall serve as an advisor and consultant to the President to provide continuity in the development and implementation of long-term policies of the Branch. A vacancy in the office of Past President shall be filled from the roster of willing former Presidents of the Branch by ballot of the Governing Board.
F. The Branch Representative to the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America shall represent the Branch on the ESA Governing Board.
G. The Early Career Professional Governing Board Member-at-Large shall give a voice to the needs of Early Career Professionals in the Branch, help give an Early Career Professional’s perspective on Branch business and help facilitate communication between the Governing Board and the Branch’s Early Career Professionals Committee.