By-Laws

Section 1: Names and Objectives   

The name of this organization shall be the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter.

The objectives of the Chapter shall be those of the American Fisheries Society, hereinafter referred to as the Society, as set forth in Article 1, Paragraph 2, of its constitution; and to encourage the exchange of information among members of the society and others residing within Pennsylvania.

All activities of this subunit shall conform to the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, Rules, and policies.

Section 2: Membership   

The membership of the Chapter shall be composed of members of the fisheries community residing in Pennsylvania.  All chapter members are encouraged, but not required, to be members of the Society.

Section 3: Officers 

  • The officers of the Chapter shall include a President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and two (2) Executive Committee Members.
  • The officers, plus the immediate past-president and an elected student representative, shall compose the seven (7) person Executive Committee.
  • Chapter officers must be members of the Society.
  • Duties and Responsibilities:
    1. President
      1. The President shall preside over and be responsible for the conduct of all meetings of the Chapter.
      2. The President shall preside over and be responsible for the conduct of all Executive Committee meetings.
      3. The President shall be the official spokesperson of the Chapter.  All communications, either verbal or written, reflecting the Chapter’s position or committing Chapter resources, shall be conveyed by the President/official spokesperson after review by the Executive Committee.*
      4. The President shall create, appoint, and dissolve temporary committees as needed.*

      * Approved by the Society Executive Committee, and then
      amended by membership ballot June 26, 1997.

    2. President-elect
      1. The President-elect shall assume the responsibilities of the President in the absence of the President.
      2. The president-elect shall be chair of the Program Committee.
      3. The President-elect shall serve as a voting member of the Chapter Executive Committee.
    3. Secretary-Treasurer
      1. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep minutes of all Executive Committee and general business meetings of the Chapter.
      2. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for the correspondence and archives of the Chapter.
      3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for the treasury of the Chapter and:
        1. shall assess the membership for dues and special fees
        2. shall meet the financial obligations of the Chapter by direction of the Executive Committee.
      4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be chair of the Membership Committee.
      5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as a voting member of the Chapter Executive Committee.
    4. Executive Committee Members
      1. The Executive Committee Members shall serve as voting members of the Chapter Executive Committee.
      2. An Executive Committee member shall be the chair of the Resolutions Committee during the first year of office.
      3. An Executive Committee Member shall be the chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee during the second year of office.
    5. Student Representative
      1. The Student Representative shall represent college fisheries students by asking for feedback from and encouraging participation by students in the Chapter.
      2. The Student Representative shall be co-chair of the Membership Committee.
      3. The Student Representative shall serve as liason between the Chapter and the Student Chapter(s).
  • Terms of Office
    1. The President shall serve a term of one (1) year.
    2. The President-elect shall serve a term of one (1) year, after which he or she shall succeed to the office of President.
    3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a term of one (1) year, and may be elected to serve consecutive terms.
    4. The other Executive Committee members shall be elected to serve a term of two(2) consecutive years.  Their terms shall be staggered so that in the initial elections, one member shall be elected for one (1) year and one member shall be elected for two (2) years.  In all future elections, only one member shall be elected.
    5. The Student Representative shall serve for one (1) year.
  • The officers shall be elected annually by the membership by means of a mail ballot.  A majority of votes cast will serve to elect.

Section 4: Standing Committees   

  • Nominations and Elections Committee
    1. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall consist of a chair and up to two (2) members appointed by the President.
    2. The Committee shall present a slate of nominees to the membership by mail ballot during April of each year.  The slate shall consist of up to two (2) members and provision for a write-in candidate for each office.
    3. The Committee shall act as the elections committee by receiving and counting the ballots, and by installing the newly elected officers at the Summer social meeting.
  • Program Committee
    1. The Program Committee shall consist of the chair and up to two (2) members appointed by the President.
    2. The Committee shall be responsible for the formulation and implementation of at least two (2) technical programs and the Summer social meeting for each year.
  • Resolutions Committee
    1. The Resolutions Committee shall consist of the chair and up to seven (7) members appointed by the President.
    2. The Committee shall develop and recommend resolutions for consideration by the Chapter membership.
  • Membership Committee
    1. The Membership Committee shall consist of the Secretary-Treasurer and Student Representative as co-chairs, and up to two (2) members appointed by the President.
    2. The Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the membership of the chapter and for recruiting new members to the Society.
  • Environmental Concerns Committee
    1. The Environmental Concerns Committee shall consist of the President-elect as chair and up to seven (7) members appointed by the President.
    2. The Environmental Concerns Committee shall identify and make suggestions to the Executive Committee and provide draft resolutions or position statements on significant environmental concerns to be voted on by the Chapter.
  • Newsletter Committee
    1. The Newsletter Committee shall consist of a chairperson and up to seven (7) members appointed by the President.
    2. The Newsletter Committee shall compile and distribute a newsletter to all members, at least three (3) weeks before each Chapter meeting.
  • Other temporary committees shall be appointed by the President as the need arises.

Section 5: Meetings   

Executive Committee meetings shall be held as needed, with a minimum of one meeting in the Autumn and one in the Spring of each year.  Chapter meetings shall be held at least twice per year, one meeting in the Autumn and one in the Spring, and a social meeting shall be held each Summer.

The President of the Chapter shall preside over all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings. Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, by Sarah Corbin Roberts shall be used in all cases not covered by these bylaws.

A quorum shall be required at any meeting for the transaction of official business.  At Chapter meetings, a quorum shall be 15% of the Chapter membership.  At Executive Committee meetings, a quorum shall be one-half of the committee membership.  Votes on routine official business will be decided by a simple majority.

Section 6: Finances   

The membership shall be responsible for establishing the level of dues and special fees for the operation of the Chapter.

Section 7: Advocacy   

Chapter advocacy can take the form of resolutions or positions statements.  Chapter advocacy shall follow guidelines as adopted by the parent Society.  In cases of extreme emergency the Executive Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the Chapter.  In most cases, chapter advocacy will be decided by mail ballot, with two thirds of the voting members required to adopt an official position.

Section 8: Amendment of Bylaws    

The Bylaws of the Chapter may be amended by mail ballot only, and by a simple two-thirds majority.  The Bylaws of the Chapter may only be amended and approved in accordance with Article IV, Paragraph 4, of the Constitution of the American Fisheries Society.

Section 9: Student Chapter(s)   

The Chapter encourages the formation of student chapters at any Pennsylvania college or university.  Student chapters will be considered sub-units of the chapter, and must conform to the Bylaws, rules and policies of the Chapter.  Student chapters must apply for affiliation with the Chapter by submitting their bylaws to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee will approve admission of student chapters by a majority vote.  Members of student chapters must also be members of the Chapter.