Table of Contents
- Article I: Name
- Article II: Purposes
- Article III: Membership
- Article IV: Meeting of Membership
- Article V: Executive Committee
- Article VI: Officers
- Article VII: Publications
- Article VIII: Fiscal Year
- Article IX: Amendments to the Bylaws
- Article X: Dissolution or Liquidation
- Article XI: General Provisions
ARTICLE I: NAME
Section 1.
The name of the Corporation shall be International Society of Chemical Ecology, Inc., hereinafter called the Society. For convenience, the expression ISCE shall be deemed to be an appropriate abbreviation.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSES
Section 1.
The Society is organized exclusively for scientific purposes, more specifically to promote the understanding of interactions between organisms and their environment that are mediated by naturally occurring chemicals. Research areas include the study of structure, function, and biosynthesis of natural products, their importance at all levels of molecular and ecological organization, their evolutionary origin and their application to social needs. Research areas may also include the study of analogs of natural chemicals, which by accident or design, mimic, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with the normal activity of naturally occurring semiochemicals.
As used in the preceding paragraph, the term “scientific” shall be defined in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and the corresponding provisions of any future revenue laws and regulations of the United States Government.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Membership in the Society shall be open to any person interested in promoting the objectives of the Society.
Section 2.
There shall be five types of members: Regular, Student, Life, Corporate Associate and Honorary.
Section 3.
Regular membership is open to any person interested in the goals of the Society and upon payment of dues, the amount of which shall be established by the Executive Committee of the Society. In cases where payment of dues would constitute a financial hardship, the President at their discretion may waive the payment of annual dues, upon written application.
Section 4.
Student membership shall be restricted to members who are currently enrolled as a student at any level in a college or university. Student membership shall be discontinued in the calendar year following graduation with the final degree obtained.
Section 5.
Companies or individual supporters may become corporate associate members upon contribution of special dues established by the Executive Committee.
Section 6.
The designation Honorary Member is an award of recognition bestowed by the Society on members who have made significant contributions to the activity and advancement of the Society. Honorary Members are entitled to all the privileges of regular members for life, and shall be exempt from payment of dues. Any member can nominate a person for Honorary membership, but each Honorary Member must be approved by the Executive Committee and Council. It will be the usual procedure for the President to announce new Honorary Members at an Annual Meeting of the Society.
Section 7.
The rights associated with membership in the Society shall be uniform among all members. Each member, irrespective of type shall be entitled to one vote on all matters properly coming before the membership for a vote.
Section 8.
The annual dues of a regular or student member shall be payable in advance of January 1 of the fiscal year. Dues for all categories of membership except Life membership may be paid annually, or in multiyear installments, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Section 9.
A member whose dues are six months in arrears shall cease to be a member of the Society. Membership dues not paid by December 31 of the fiscal year are considered in arrears for one year.
ARTICLE IV: MEETING OF MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
The annual meeting of the membership of the Society for purpose of transacting business, presenting communications and related activities shall be held each year at such place and at such time as may be determined by the Executive Committee. The Secretary of the Society shall give, personally or by mail, not less than 30 days prior to the date for such meeting to each member entitled to vote thereat, written notice stating the place, date and hour of the meeting.
Section 2.
Special meetings of the membership may be called at any time by a majority of the Executive Committee. Written notice of such meetings stating the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and the purpose for which it is called shall be given not less than 30 days prior to the date set for the meeting. Notice of such meeting shall be given to each member of record in the same manner as notice of the annual meeting.
Section 3.
All members in attendance at a duly called meeting of the membership in person or via remote connection shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1.
The management of the Society shall be vested in an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of six persons, four of whom shall be elected by the membership to serve as President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Society, the other two of whom will be the immediate Past President of the Society and the Editor or an Associate Editor of the official publication of the Society (The Journal of Chemical Ecology). The term of office of the President, the Vice-President and the Past-President is one year or until such time as their successors have been duly elected by the membership and qualified. In the event of vacancies the President shall make interim appointment until the next election is held, provided, however, vacancies of elected officers shall be filled as hereafter provided. The term of office of the Secretary, the Treasurer and the representative of the Journal shall be three years.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee shall meet for the transaction of business each year at the time of the annual meeting of the membership, and other regular meetings shall be held at such times as the Committee may from time to time determine. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President at any time, and they must, upon the written request of two Committee members, call a special meeting to be held not more than 30 days after the receipt of such a request.
Section 3.
No notice need be given of any regular meeting of the Executive Committee. Notice of special meetings shall be served upon each Committee member in person or by mail addressed to them at their last known address, at least 30 days prior to the date of such meeting, specifying the time and place of the meeting and the business to be transacted thereat. At any meeting at which all of the Committee members shall be present, with or without notice, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if the meeting had been duly called.
Section 4.
A majority of the total number of members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for all meetings of the Executive Committee.
Section 5.
At all meetings of the Executive Committee, each member thereof shall have only one vote and unless otherwise provided herein, all decisions of the Executive Committee shall require a majority vote.
Section 6.
The Executive Committee shall appoint committees for special purposes. About 2.5 years prior to an annual ISCE meeting, the current president of the society will appoint a committee for the organization of the meeting 2.5 years ahead. The committee will include (in addition to the host of that meeting) the newly elected vice president, who will be the president in the respective year 2.5 years later) and 2 other experienced ISCE members.
These four persons are responsible for a draft of the scientific program which must be presented to the executive committee 2 years prior the meeting.
Section 7.
The Executive Committee shall determine the assessment of dues for all categories of membership.
Section 8.
The Executive Committee shall consider and recommend to the membership from time to time appropriate changes or amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Society and be responsible for the submission of all required reports to State and other governmental agencies, annually or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS
Section 1.
The officers of the Society to be elected by the membership shall be a President, a Vice- President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and fifteen Councillors. The office of Vice-President shall be considered to be that of President-elect. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
Section 2.
Election of officers shall be by written ballot of the Society by majority votes cast by members. Nominations for Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Councillors shall be presented to the membership by the Executive Committee and the Councilors. By petition, the membership may nominate candidates to the Executive Committee on the basis of the endorsement of at least 25 members.
Section 3.
Upon election, the term of office for President and Vice -President shall extend through the Business Session of the next Annual Meeting. The Vice President shall become President at the end of their scheduled term of office or at any prior time that the office of President may be vacated. However, they shall not succeed themself as President after serving the scheduled term of office. Following the term of office, the Past-President will be appointed a Councillor for a period of three years. The immediate Past-President shall serve as the chief executive officer when both the offices of President and Vice-President are vacated. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, the immediate past president shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. The term of office of the Secretary and of the Treasurer shall be three years. At the discretion of the Executive Committee and Councillors, the Secretary and the Treasurer can run for additional terms, whereas the Vice-President, President and Past- President are restricted to a single term.
Section 4.
The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
(A) PRESIDENT: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Society. It shall be his duty to preside at the business and general meetings of the Society. They shall have the power to call meetings of the Executive Committee, and shall appoint committees authorized by the Executive Committee.
(B) VICE-PRESIDENT: The Vice-President shall assist the President and shall serve as acting President in the latter’s absence.
(C) SECRETARY: The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping complete minutes of the Business Session of the Annual Meeting and of all meetings of the Executive committee. In the absence of the President, Vice-President and Past-President, the Secretary shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Society except as otherwise provided, and shall be responsible for distribution of special notices to the membership. The Secretary shall be responsible for publication and distribution to the membership of any newsletters.
(D) TREASURER: The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due to the Society and shall have custody of the funds of the Society. The Treasurer shall make disbursements for debts against the Society, and shall keep a full accounting of the Society’s financial transactions. The Treasurer shall issue dues notices at the beginning of the fiscal year and dues reminders as required during the fiscal year to members not current in dues by those dates. The Treasurer shall keep the membership list of the Society up-to-date. At the beginning of the fiscal year, and at other times upon request, the treasurer shall supply the members of the Executive Committee a list of all members in good standing. The treasurer shall administer the financial policies of the Society. At the close of the fiscal year, they shall prepare an annual financial statement of accounting, including all transaction records, to be submitted to the Executive Committee for review and archiving. The Treasurer shall submit to the Society at each Annual Meeting an Annual Report of the financial operations and membership information for the current fiscal year to which shall be attached the audited financial statement as at the close of the previous fiscal year. In the Annual Report the Treasurer shall include an interim financial statement for the current fiscal year as of date within 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting. Audit of the interim financial statement shall not be required.
(E) COUNCILLORS: Councillors are to represent various fields of chemical ecology and to act in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee in formulating policy. The term of the Councillors shall be three years with one third of these being renewed yearly. Should a Councillor become a member of the Executive Committee or resign during their three year term, that Councillor position shall remain vacant for the remainder of the term.
(F) WEBMASTER: The President, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Webmaster who will form a direct link between the Society membership and the Executive Committee. The Webmaster will improve and maintain the Society’s website, support the Treasurer in updating and maintaining the membership list, and announce employment opportunities as well as other items of interest in e-mail circulars to all members. The Webmaster will help the Executive Committee in other kinds of administration when asked. The Webmaster will post the ISCE Newsletters and information relating to the annual meetings on the ISCE website in a timely manner.
ARTICLE VII: PUBLICATIONS
Section 1.
The official journal of the Society is The Journal of Chemical Ecology.
Section 2.
The Society shall publish at least three newsletters per year. Publication of the newsletter, as approved by the Executive Committee, shall be the responsibility of the Secretary. In cooperation with the Webmaster, the newsletter may be printed and mailed or distributed through electronic media.
ARTICLE VIII: FISCAL YEAR
Section 1.
The fiscal year of the Society shall be from January 1 to December 31.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
Section 1.
Upon recommendation of the Executive Committee these Bylaws may be adopted or amended by a simple majority vote of the membership at the Annual Meeting or by written or electronic ballot.
Section 2.
Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be made in writing to the Secretary 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting and shall be distributed to all members at least 14 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION
Section 1.
In the event of dissolution or liquidation all liabilities and obligations of the Society shall be paid, satisfied and discharged.
Section 2.
All assets remaining shall be transferred to one or more societies for organizations engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the society and exempt from taxation under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 or corresponding provisions of the revenue laws of the United States Government.
ARTICLE XI: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1.
The membership mailing list of the Society will be released to private or commercial interests only when in judgement of the Executive Committee such a distribution will be to the benefit of the Society.
Section 2.
The Society shall be organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes.
Section 3.
No part of the activities of the Society shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.
Section 4.
The society shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of a candidate for public office.
Section 5.
No financial obligations shall be incurred on behalf of the Society by an officer or member unless authorized by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer must be in attendance for the Executive Committee to call for a vote on incurring financial obligations.
Section 6.
The Society shall not be organized or operated for profit.
Section 7.
No part of the funds of the Society shall or may accrue to the benefit of private individuals. Exceptions to this include: 1. Use of society funds for professional awards, travel awards, and caregiver support mechanisms that have been voted on and approved by the Executive Committee and Council Members; 2. Use of society funds to support member exchanges among meetings through official support mechanisms voted on and approved by the Executive Committee and Council Members; 3. Use of society funds to provide supplementary funding for the secretary and/or treasurer to attend annual meetings upon demonstration of financial need and following a unanimous vote by the president, vice president, and past president.
Section 8.
The society shall not engage in any transactions which result in the diversion of any part of its funds to any officer or member of the Society.
Section 9.
Membership in and participation in the Society shall in no way be based upon race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, and physical or mental handicap.
Amendments to the bylaws were approved by ISCE members at the business meeting in Bangalore on August 27, 2023.