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By-laws of the Southwestern chapter of the Ecological Society of America

Article 1. NAME. The official name of this Chapter shall be “The Southwestern Chapter of the Ecological Society of America.”

Article 2. PURPOSE. The objectives of this Chapter shall be to encourage education and research, and to sponsor meetings for the communication of ecological education and research activities of special interest to ecologists in the Southwestern Region of North America. The Southwestern Chapter shall be a subdivision of the Ecological Society and shall be governed in all of its operations by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.

Article 3. MEMBERSHIP. Any member of any class of the Ecological Society of America who so desires may become a member of the Chapter by payment of Chapter annual dues.

Article 4. OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS. The officers of the Chapter shall be a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, a Webmaster, and an Outgoing Chairperson. Any member shall be eligible for nomination as an officer. The first three officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members who vote in accordance with email ballots, distributed to the membership by the Chairperson. The email ballots and biographical sketches of all candidates will be distributed not less than 60 days before the Chapter annual business meeting. The Chapter membership will have 30 days to return their votes to the Chairperson. The webmaster is appointed by the Chairperson.

Article 5. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRPERSON. The Chairperson shall preside at the business meeting of the Chapter, shall authorize expenditures of Chapter funds, and shall promote in every reasonable way, the interests of the Chapter. The Chairperson shall serve for a term of one year and shall serve one year as Outgoing Chairperson. The Chairperson shall represent the Chapter in dealing with the Society, and shall appoint committees as required to promote the interests of the Chapter. Such committees shall serve until the next annual business meeting of the Chapter and may be reappointed at the discretion of the Chairperson.

Article 6. DUTIES OF THE VICE-CHAIRPERSON. The Vice-Chairperson shall arrange the scientific program at the annual ESA meeting, and shall assume the duties of the Chairperson whenever that person is unable to act. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve a term of one year and shall serve the consecutive year as Chairperson.

Article 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The secretary shall keep the records of the Chapter, including a current membership and mailing list. The Secretary shall edit a newsletter for communication of Chapter activities. The Secretary shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for reelection.

Article 8. DUTIES OF THE OUTGOING CHAIRPERSON. The Outgoing Chairperson shall assist in the duties of the Chairperson as requested. The Outgoing Chairperson may serve as a proxy for an officer of the chapter. The Outgoing Chairperson shall serve a term of one year and shall be eligible for reelection.

Article 9: The Webmaster shall promote the Chapter’s interests through maintaining and updating the Chapter’s web page.

Article 10. FINANCES. Necessary expenses of the Chapter shall be paid from monies allocated to the Chapter as approved by the Council of the Society plus the amount, if any, collected as dues by the Society on behalf of the Chapter. No officer or member shall have authority to incur expenses in the name of the Society, except as specified above.

Article 11. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A Chapter Executive Committee, consisting of officers of the Chapter, may act on behalf of the Chapter during intervals between annual meetings.

Article 12. MEETINGS. The Chapter may meet with the Society at its annual meeting and may organize Chapter meetings at other times and places at the call of the Executive Committee, or when requested by at least ten members of the Chapter.

Article 13. PUBLICATIONS. The newsletter shall be published at least once each year, at such time as to allow inclusion of a call for papers, symposium contributions, and other Chapter business which requires the attention of the membership prior to the annual meeting. News of the Chapter published in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America or posted on the Chapter’s web page shall constitute fulfillment of the requirement.

Article 14. REVIEW. The purpose of the Chapter should be reviewed and renewed every five years by two-thirds vote of those members present at any annual meeting of the Chapter, provided that notice has been given to all members sixty days in advance, or by a two-thirds vote in a ballot sent to all Chapter members.

Article 15. AMENDMENTS. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual meeting of the Chapter, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been supplied to members of the Chapter at least sixty days prior to the annual meeting date.