By-laws

Article 1. NAME. The official name of this Chapter shall be “Latin American and the Caribbean Chapter of the Ecological Society of America.”

Article 2. The objective of this Chapter shall be to encourage research and education in ecology and its applications within Latin America (Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean) and to facilitate the participation of Latin American and the Caribbean students and scientists in the ESA. The Chapter shall foster communication and development of collaborative links among ecologists by supporting regional scientific meetings, conferences, online seminars (“webinars”), projects, mentorship, workshops and courses. To these ends, the Latin American Chapter will seek collaboration from existing academic and professional organizations in the region. The Latin American Chapter and the Caribbean shall be a subdivision of the Ecological Society of America and shall be governed in all of its operations by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.

Article 3. MEMBERSHIP. Any member of the Ecological Society of America may become a member of the Latin American and the Caribbean Chapter upon payment of the designated dues.

Article 4. OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS. The officers of the Chapter shall be a Chairperson, a Chairperson-Elect, and a Secretary. Any members nominated by email thirty days before the elections shall be eligible for nomination as an officer. Officers will be selected by a majority of members voting via email when solicited by the executive committee of the Chapter.

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 be eligible for reelection. The Chairperson shall represent the Chapter on the Council of the Society, and shall appoint committees as required to promote the interests of the Chapter. Such committees shall serve until the next annual meeting of the Chapter and may be reappointed at the discretion of the Chairperson. The Chairperson may also appoint a Media and Communications Officer, Finances Officer, and/ or Education and Outreach Officer.

Article 6. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRPERSON-ELECT. The Chairperson-Elect shall arrange the scientific program, including field excursions, for all meetings of the Chapter, and shall assume the duties of the Chairperson whenever that person is unable to act. The Chairperson-Elect is to assume the position of the Chairperson after one year’s duty unless the active Chairperson is reelected. The Chairperson-Elect shall serve for a term of one year and shall be eligible for reelection.

Article 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep the records of the Chapter, including a current membership and mailing list. The Secretary will communicate Chapter activities through an electronic newsletter. The Secretary shall serve for a term of one year, and shall be eligible for reelection.

Article 8. FINANCES. Necessary expenses of the Chapter shall be paid from the treasury of the Society, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Chapter exceed the sum of the amount allotted for this purpose in the annual budget of the Society plus the amount, if any, collected as dues by the Society on behalf of the Chapter. No officer or member of the Chapter shall have authority to incur expenses in the name of the Society, except as specified above.

Article 9. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A Chapter Executive Committee, consisting of the officers of the Chapter, may act on behalf of the Chapter during intervals between annual meetings.

Article 10. MEETINGS. The Chapter shall either meet with the Society at their annual meeting, or may organize Chapter meetings at other times and places at the call of the Executive Committee, or when requested by ten members of the Chapter. A business meeting of the Chapter shall be held at the annual meeting and the members present shall constitute a quorum. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given to all members of the Chapter at least sixty days in advance of each annual meeting. The publication of a notice of the meeting in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America shall constitute adequate notice.

Article 11. AMENDMENTS. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members consulted by electronic means, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been supplied to the members of the Chapter at least thirty days prior to consultation.

Article 12.  CHAPTER 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.