EC AND SOCIETY VOTES UPDATE FOR 2016-2017
Curious to know how your society is changing? Read below for an update on the votes in the past fiscal year, prepared by ABS Parlamentarian Tamra Mendelson
Constitutional changes approved by society-wide voting:
Article 4: Officers
Section 1.
The officers of this Society are: President, First President-Elect, Second President-Elect, Past-President, Program Officer, Program Officer-Elect, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Executive Editor, Secretary, Public Affairs Officer, and Graduate Student Representative (Revised by Society-wide voting 2016).
Section 3.
Term of Office: The term of office shall be one year for President, First President-Elect, Second President-Elect, Past-President, Program Officer, and Program Officer-Elect. The term of office shall be two years for the Graduate Student Representative. The term of office shall be three years for Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Executive Editor, and Public Affairs Officer. All terms will commence following the last date scheduled for the annual meeting, at which time the terms of the outgoing officers will end. The expiration date of the terms of the Secretary and Treasurer shall be arranged so only one is elected in any one year. A Program Officer-Elect shall be elected every year, becoming Program Officer the following year. A Second President-Elect shall be elected each year, becoming successively First President-Elect, President, and Past-President. In the cases of death or resignation of the President or First President-Elect, these offices shall be filled by the above stated succession. Other offices becoming vacant shall be filled by special election of the membership. Officers are eligible for re-election, but are limited to two terms in any one office (Revised by Society-wide voting 2016).
Article 11: Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Committee, by a majority vote at a business meeting, or by a petition to the Executive Committee signed by 15 or more members of the Society. Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be submitted to the membership for voting by mail, email, or other transmission method as the Executive Committee deems reasonable and confirmed by a two-thirds vote of those members returning marked ballots. The results of the vote shall be announced in the next issue of the Newsletter (Revised by Society-wide voting 2016).
Bylaws changes approved by EC vote:
Section 5. Secretary (revised by vote at EC meeting 2017)
a. Coordinate arrangements for Executive Committee and business meetings and record the minutes thereof.
b. Conduct all authorized mail and electronic mail ballots.
c. Make purchases and employ assistance as authorized in the budget in order to expedite the business of the Society. The Secretary shall be reimbursed from the funds of the Society for such expenses.
Section 10. Public Affairs Officer (enacted at EC meeting 2017)
a. Chair the Public Affairs Committee
b. Take charge of the society’s efforts in media outreach, social media, and advocacy.
c. Oversee editing of the ABS newsletter.
Section 11. Graduate Student Representative (enacted at EC meeting 2017)
a. Represent graduate student views and interests in Executive Committee meetings
b. Serve on the Public Affairs Committee as Social Media Fellow.
Policy changes approved by EC vote:
5. Elections
A. Officers
1. Schedules for election of officers will be as follows.
b. Nominees for Graduate Student Representative will be selected by graduate students in attendance at the ABS conference (Revised at 2017 EC meeting).
6. Executive Committee Meetings
j). When the President or members call for a vote on a motion, the motion is open and members may vote on the motion. Everyone on the list is allowed, but not required, to vote yea or nay, or any other means of indicating assent or dissent within reason and common decency. This open period lasts for 7 working days or until the total number of votes equals a quorum (defined as either the presence of at least 2/3 of the voting members of the Executive Committee (EC) at a meeting, whether that be in-person or online or a combination thereof, or participation of at least 2/3 of the EC in a vote). The 7 day open period does not include the day the call for a vote was made. Revised by EC e-Vote August, 2017.
12. Career Awards
b. Awards do not have to be given every year. Final action by the Executive Committee on nominations presented by Career Awards Committee requires a majority affirmative vote with at least six yes votes. (Revised by e-vote, July 2017)
f. Ties shall be resolved by a runoff election in which the tied candidates are ranked as above and voters are given two days to return ballots. In case of a tie in the runoff, the award shall be given to all tied candidates. (Revised at 2017 EC meeting).
20. Finances
a. The Animal Behavior Society, Inc. is registered as a not for profit corporation in the State of Delaware. Effective September 23, 2015, the Society’s registered agent and registered office are at 1201 Orange Street, #600, Wilmington, Delaware, 19899. (Updated by eVote, July 2017).
Deleted:
d. Members renewing late may order in-stock back issues of the journal at the prevailing single issue price (Enacted by E.C. October 2006).
f. The Treasurer of ABS should be personally bonded in the approximate amount of cash available in the preceding year, the bond being specifically for ABS funds.
g. The ad hoc Committee on the Holding and Investing of Unexpended Funds which consists of the Treasurer and past Treasurers will review and report annually to the Executive Committee on the allocation of money.
25. ABS Policy
a. A list of long-term ABS Policy will be updated concurrent with EC votes by the Parliamentarian based both on the minutes of the recent annual meeting provided by the Secretary and on electronic votes conducted by the EC. An updated version of the handbook shall be posted online with each update (Revised at 1992 & 1999 E.C. meetings and eVote of the EC January 2005; Revised by EC eVote, September 2017).
31. Program Certification of Applied Behaviorists
Re-certification
Certification may be renewed for five year periods. To renew certification, an individual must apply for renewal, pay an annual fee, remain a member of ABS, present a case study or research-based paper or poster at an ABS meeting at least once in the previous 5 years, and show proof each year of current liability insurance with ABS listed on their policy as an additional insured party. Failure to meet these requirements will result in decertification. (Upheld by vote at 2017 EC meeting.)
i. Fee Structure (same for both levels of certification) (Revised at 2008 E.C. meeting). Fees include Application Fees and Certification Program Dues (Revised by EC eVote 2016).
1. Application Fees
Initial Application: $100 (non-refundable, but also covers first re-application)
Re-application: $100 (second and subsequent)
Recertification: $100 every 5 years
2. Certification Program Dues
Annual Dues: $50 per year