Bylaws & Procedures

Revised March 1997

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The name of this organization shall be the Physiology Section of the American Fisheries Society (herein after referred to as the Society) as provided for by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

The purpose of the Physiology Section is to promote excellence in the science of fish physiology through improved communications between researchers and other professionals who want current information on physiological processes, tools and techniques. The general objectives of the Physiology Section are the same as those of the Society, as provided in Article I.2 of the Society Constitution. The specific objectives of the Physiology Section are:

1. To provide a forum for members to exchange information, express views, report on activities and discuss solutions to problems related to the processes, procedures, techniques and impacts of fish physiology research and practice;

2. To conduct meetings, symposia, and workshops to disseminate state-of-the-art knowledge of basic and applied research on fish physiology to the scientific and professional community, resource users and the general public;

3. To promote participation and membership in the AFS by scientists and fisheries professionals with interests in the physiological biology of fish.

Section II. Membership

Membership in the Physiology Section shall be open to anyone interested in the field of fish physiology. Only members in good standing of the Society may serve as officers, chair committees or vote on Physiology Section affairs.

Section III. Officers

The Officers of the Physiology Section shall be the Immediate Past President, President, President-Elect, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer. The Officers make up the official, elected, governing body of the Physiology Section.

a. The offices of Immediate Past President, President, President-Elect and Vice President shall be for one-year terms; consecutive terms are prohibited. Each year a new Vice-President will be elected and the following accessions will occur: Vice President to President-Elect, President-Elect to President and President to Immediate Past President.

b. The office of Secretary/Treasurer shall be for a two-year term, with provision for a second two-year term upon unanimous approval by the other Officers. A new Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected during the year prior to the expiration of the term(s) of the preceding Secretary/Treasurer.

c. If the President or President-Elect cannot serve his/her term, the required accessions will occur to fill these positions, with subsequent election of both Vice-President and President-Elect. If the Secretary/Treasurer cannot serve out his/term(s), the other Officers shall assume the required responsibilities until an election can be held.

d. The President shall serve as Chair of the Officers and the Executive Committee; preside at the annual Physiology Section business meeting; appoint all committees; and serve as an ex officio member thereof. The president shall represent the Physiology Section on the Society Governing Board by attending Governing Board meetings and reporting on Physiology Section activities; and perform other duties and functions as authorized and necessary.

e. The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President; assume those duties in the event the office of President is vacated for any reason; perform other duties as requested by the President; and, on completion of his/her term, accede to the presidency.

f. The Vice President shall perform such duties as requested by the President, and, on the completion of his/her term, accede to the office of President Elect.

g. The Secretary/Treasurer shall receive all funds; pay all bills; keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements; and submit minutes of the Annual Business Meeting of the Physiology Section to the Executive Director of the Society within 30 days after the meeting is held.

h. All Officers shall serve without salary or other compensations for their services. Expenses may be defrayed from funds available to the Section when authorized by a majority of the Officers.

Section IV. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is made up of the Officers, Chairs of all Committees, the Newsletter Editor and all Past Presidents of the Physiology Section. Only the Officers, as the elected representatives of the membership, have a vote in decisions of policy, spending and appointments, but the other members of the Executive Committee may assist in the conduct of Physiology Section business under the aegis of the Officers.

Section V. Meetings

The Physiology Section shall hold at least one business meeting annually at a time and place designated by the Officers. Special meetings may be called by the President with the consent of a majority of the Officers.

Decisions at business meetings of the Physiology Section shall be in accordance with the Constitution of the Society. A quorum at business meetings shall be 10 voting members of the Physiology Section, each of whom is entitled to one vote on all matters requiring the approval of the membership.

Meetings of the Officers or the Executive Committee may be held at any time at the call of the President. Such meetings and the required voting on decisions may be conducted by any means of voice, electronic or print communication.

Section VI. Finances

The Physiology Section may solicit memberships, sponsorships, donations or other income from any source or in any manner that is deemed appropriate by the Officers and does not compromise the Society or contravene the Society's Constitution and Bylaws.

The Officers may assess those attending a meeting of the Physiology Section a registration fee as provided by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. An annual membership fee shall be determined by the Officers.

The Officers may approve any disbursements that are consistent with the objectives of the Physiology Section. All income and disbursements must be listed and reported to the membership annually.

Upon dissolution of the Physiology Section, all of its assets and records shall revert to another Society subunit or to the Society as recommended by the outgoing Officers, upon the approval of the Society Governing Board.

Section VII. Amendment of Bylaws

Amendments to the Physiology Section Bylaws must meet the following conditions:

1. Be passed by a 2/3 majority either at an Annual Business Meeting (where a quorum exists), or by a mail vote in which at least 10% of the membership return ballots;

2. Conform to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society; and

3. Be approved by the Society Governing Board.