2021 Governance Redesign

What are the goals of these changes? What changes are being proposed? What is driving the changes to the Governing Board? What is driving the changes to the committees? What is driving the changes to the Council? What happens next? What are the goals of these changes? Align the Society’s governance structure to support the strategic plan by increasing the…

In 2019, a special subcommittee of the ESA Governing Board reviewed the Society’s governance processes with the goal of creating a structure that would better serve the large, complex, professionally managed society ESA has become. The first round of changes to ESA’s governance took effect in March 2020, following a vote by the membership to dissolve the old constitution and…

The ESA Council’s role in the Society is primarily consultative as outlined in the current bylaws. Council members report on the work of their constituent groups and are tasked with approving member petitions (e.g., to create a new section, change the Bylaws, etc.). The Council membership includes: 32 Section chairs 6 Chapter chairs 8 standing committees chairs 11 Governing Board…

ESA’s standing committees support the Society by providing leadership, oversight, programs. Committees operate at the intersection of the Governing Board, professional staff, and membership. Some committees are directly tied to the fiduciary oversight, some committees are tied directly to core Society programs, and some committees are tied to specific program administration. Their composition, leaders, and reporting vary from committee to…

The Governing Board is ultimately charged with fiduciary and strategic responsibility as a collective body. In the current board structure, Governing Board members are directly elected by the membership and serve in a variety of specific roles with uneven responsibilities and different terms in office: President, President-elect, and Past President Vice Presidents of Finance, Education and Human Resources, Public Affairs,…