Statutes
and Bylaws of the Mexican Chapter of the American Fisheries
Society
Section I. Name and Objectives
1. The name of this organization shall be
the Mexican Chapter of the Western Division of the American
Fisheries Society, hereafter referred to as the Chapter,
Division and Society respectively.
2. Chapter objectives shall be to
facilitate communication among members regarding the conduct
of the fisheries profession in Mexico, to promote the
conservation of Mexican fisheries, and those set forth in
Article I of the Society's Constitution:
(a) To promote the conservation, development,
and wise use of the fisheries;
(b) To promote and evaluate the development and
advancement of all branches of fisheries science and practice;
(c) To gather and disseminate to Society members
and the general public scientific, technical, and other
information about fisheries science and practice through
publications, meetings, and other forms of communication;
(d) To encourage the teaching of fisheries
science and practice in college and universities and the
continuing professional development of fisheries workers.
Section II. Membership
1. The membership of the Chapter shall be
composed of those American Fisheries Society members in good
standing and paying dues to the Chapter (to be set by the
Executive Committee) residing in Mexico or in the USA states
bordering Mexico.
Section III. Meetings
1. The Chapter shall hold at least one
general membership meeting every two years at times and places
designated by the Executive Committee. Program
development shall be the responsibility of the Program
Committee. Special meetings may be called by the
President with approval of the Executive Committee.
Section IV. Officers
1. Chapter officers shall consist of a
President, President-Elect, Past-President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. Election of officers shall be by mail ballot
vote prior to and a ballot box vote at the Chapter
meeting. The Executive Committee shall determine
balloting procedures. In the case of a vacated position,
the Executive Committee shall appoint a Chapter member as
replacement by majority vote. All officers must be
members in good standing of the Society.
2. The terms of President,
President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, and Past-President
shall be two years. An elected officer shall be ineligible for
re-election to the same office for one year after the term
expiration date.
Section V. Duties of Officers
1. The Chapter President shall preside at
all meetings, serve as Executive Committee Chair, and
represent the Chapter to the Division and to the Society and
shall appoint all standing and special committee chairs.
2. The President-Elect shall serve on the
Executive Committee and as Program Committee Chair and assume
the duties of President in the President's absence or
inability to act. The President-Elect shall advance to
the office of President at the end of the term.
3. The Past-President shall be the
immediate outgoing President and shall serve on the
Executive Committee, serve as the chair of the Nominating
Committee; and assist the other officers as needed.
4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve on
the Executive Committee, keep the official records of the
Chapter, collect and be custodian of any funds collected or
allotted to the Chapter, advance to the office of
President-Elect and conduct the election. The
Secretary-Treasurer shall disburse funds as authorized by the
Executive Committee or the membership, and at the Chapter
meeting, the year-end report a comparison of approved versus
actual income and expenditures for the current period.
Section VI. Executive Committee
1. The Executive Committee of the Chapter
shall consist of the elected officers, and the immediate Past
President. The Committee is authorized to act for the Chapter
between meetings and to perform appropriate duties and
functions.
2. The Executive Committee of the Chapter
shall report all activities, meetings, changes in leadership,
and other business to the Division President, as well as the
Executive Director of the Society.
3. A quorum is required for transaction of
official business at an Executive Committee meeting. A
quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall consist of
three of the four members. Executive Committee members
can appoint a proxy. Each member of the Executive
Committee shall have one vote on Executive Committee
decisions. In the event of a tie, the President’s vote
shall be the deciding vote.
Section VII. Chapter Committee
1. The Chapter President is authorized to
create from Active members of the Chapter any temporary or
special committees that are necessary to meet Chapter
objectives.
2. Except for Standing Committees, the
terms of office for members of Chapter Committees shall end
upon the discharge of the duties for which they were
appointed, or at the next meeting of the Chapter, whichever
comes first.
3. Standing Committees, as referred to in
these Bylaws, are long-term in nature. Their subject matter is
of continuing significance for meeting Chapter objectives and
sufficiently important to warrant representation on the
Executive Committee. Standing Committees shall be
created upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Executive
Committee.
4. Standing Committee Chairs shall be
appointed by the President. Standing committee members
shall be appointed by respective Chairs. The function of
each Standing Committee is as follows:
(a) Awards Committee shall nominate candidates
for special recognition by the Chapter. Awards promote and
recognize excellence; encourage contributions to fisheries
conservation, science, and education; and promote the
professional image of the Chapter and Society. Awards
shall be given upon approval of the Executive Committee.
(b) Bylaws and Nominations Committee shall
submit to the Executive Committee a slate of candidates for
specific Chapter offices. The names of at least two
Active Members shall be submitted for each office to be
elected. The nominations and a short biographical sketch
of each nominee shall be circulated to the general membership
at least 30 days prior to the general membership
meeting. Additional nominations may be placed on the
Bylaws and Nominations Committee's slate upon the signature
approval of five Chapter members, provided prior approval of
the nominee has been obtained. Such additional
nominations must be submitted to the Bylaws and Nominations
Committee at least 60 days prior to the general membership
meeting. The Bylaws and Nominations Committee shall
periodically review the Chapter Bylaws and after requesting
review of the Constitutional Consultant, present them to the
Executive Committee for approval at least 60 days prior to the
general membership meeting.
(c) Communications Committee shall provide
information on Chapter activities to the Division, Society,
and Fisheries Magazine, and shall provide information to the
public and media regarding Chapter activities, positions, and
opinions. Chapters often designate a webmaster and
newsletter editor here.
(d) Finance Committee which includes the Chapter
Treasurer, shall advise the Executive committee on matters of
fiscal policy. This committee shall review funding
opportunities and submit its recommendations to the Executive
Committee for approval.
(e) Policy and Resolutions Committee shall draft
and recommend to the Chapter and/or the Executive Committee
for approval those resolutions, policies, and position
statements, which accomplish Chapter objectives.
f) Program Committee shall arrange the program,
consisting of technical presentations, symposia, and other
fishery-related activities, for the general membership
meeting. The Chair of the Program Committee shall be the
winner of the most recent presidential election, and shall
retain the Chair when he/she assumes the duties of
President-Elect. The Program Committee Chair shall be the lead
for all other aspects of planning of the Annual Meeting and
shall nominate the Local Arrangements Committee Chair for
appointment by the President.
Section VIII. Voting and Quorum
1. Decisions at meetings are by simple
majority of Active Members voting, except 2/3 majorities are
required in special cases such as amending the Bylaws and
suspending a Rule. Other less frequently used voting
requirements are described in Robert's Rules of Order.
2. A quorum is required at any Chapter
general membership meeting for the transaction of official
Chapter business and shall be twenty Chapter members.
3. Unless otherwise specified in these
Bylaws or the Constitution of the Society, meetings are
conducted according to the latest edition of Robert's Rules of
Order.
Section IX. Resgistration Fees and Annual
Dues
1. The Executive Committee may assess each
general membership meeting registrant a fee to cover the cost
of the meeting.
2. Annual dues to carry on Chapter
activities shall be reviewed by the Executive Committee and
any changes approved by majority vote of the general
membership.
3. No elected officer or appointed
committee member of the Chapter shall receive any salary or
other compensation. Expenses may be defrayed from funds
available to the Chapter when authorized by the Executive
Committee.
Section X. BYLAWS. RULES AND PROCEDURES.
1. The Bylaws are the defining document
for the Chapter and take precedence over all other rules
and procedures of the Chapter. The Bylaws cannot be
suspended and cannot be changed without prior notice to
members
(a) Chapter Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3
majority of Active Members choosing to vote, provided that the
proposed amendment(s) are circulated in writing to the
membership at least 30 days prior to voting.
(b) Bylaw amendments shall be approved by
the Society's Governing Board prior to implementation.
Amendments take effect when the Chapter receives written
notice of their approval by the Governing Board from the
Executive Director.
2. Rules are the next highest level of
documentation of Chapter operations. They are generally
established to facilitate the conduct of Chapter business, and
to describe duties and responsibilities of officers and
committees. They may be suspended or amended as follows.
(a) The Rules may be suspended during an
Executive Committee meeting until the Chapter meeting by
a 2/3 majority of the Executive Committee.
(b) The Rules may be suspended for the
duration of a meeting by a 2/3 majority of Active Members
voting at an annual or special Chapter meeting.
(c) The Rules may be amended by a simple
majority of Active Members voting at a Chapter meeting.
3. Procedures are the lowest level
of documentation of Chapter operations. They are
generally established to provide continuity in the conduct of
Chapter business. The Procedures may be suspended or
amended by a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee. | 
