Organization

Section 1 – Membership is open to individuals who devote a significant amount of their time to research, extension, college or university teaching, and/or regulatory activities relating to honey bees.

Section 2 – Payment of dues, according to the following classes of membership, is necessary for membership and voting privileges.

Section 3 – The membership of the Association shall be divided into the following classes:

1. Individual –Any qualified person living and/or working in the United States who wishes to join the Association. Voting privileges are included.
2. Student –Any qualified college student who wishes to join the Association. Such membership shall not have voting privileges.
3. Associate –Any person or organization interested in supporting the purpose of this Association. Such membership shall not have voting privileges.
4. Emeritus –Any person who has retired from the fore mentioned bee-related activities. Candidates for invitation to Emeritus status will be solicited at Annual Meetings and will be subject to a vote of the members in attendance. Emeritus members are not required to pay dues and do not have voting privileges.

Section 1 – The business affairs of the Association shall be conducted by the officers, as described in Article 6.

Section 2 – Association business may be conducted by e-mail. If voting is required, ballots shall be e-mailed to all members. A brief pro and con explanation of each issue, deadline date for receipt of ballots, and return address shall be indicated on each ballot. A majority vote will carry.

Section 1 – The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer,  which make up the Executive Board.

Section 2 – The President shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association and shall preside at all business meetings of the Association. The President shall appoint all committees and shall be an ex-officio member of the committees.

Section 3 – The Vice-President, in the absence or disability of the President, shall perform the functions of the office of President The Vice-President will lead the Annual Meeting per Article 9, Section 3. Upon completion of term as Vice-President, the Vice-President will transition to President upon agreement by a majority of the voting membership in attendance of the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 4 – The Secretary-Treasurer shall attend and keep a complete and correct record of all meetings of the Association. The Secretary-Treasurer will maintain an accurate and updated membership roll. Within 15 days after the Annual Meeting this officer shall send copies of the minutes to the President and Vice-President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall approve and pay all bills in a timely manner for the Association and maintain accurate records of the Association’s finances.

Section 5 – In case of the extended absence or incapacity of the Secretary-Treasurer, the President may approve and pay bills.

Section 6 – The Executive Board shall be made up of the officers representing, as much as possible, regulation, university research, university teaching, extension, and USDA. At the initiation of the President, the Board may meet via conference call or e-mail about three months before the annual business meeting to assess the year’s activities and identify agenda items for the annual meeting. Prior to publication, all Association publications intended for distribution to members shall be reviewed by the Executive Board.

Section 7 – Terms for all officers are for the two-year period lasting from the meeting at which they are elected. An individual can be re-elected for Secretary-Treasurer for a second term (4 years total). No individual may hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms (4 years total) and at least two terms must lapse before an individual is again eligible for the same office.

Section 1 – The President shall appoint such committees as are necessary for the efficient conduct of the Association’s activities.

If a committee member is unable to perform their duties, as determined by a majority of the Executive Board, then the President will appoint a replacement to serve until that committee member can resume their duties or the next election, whichever comes first.

Section 2 – The Awards Committee shall oversee the administration of all awards for the Section. The Awards Committee shall be responsible for (1) soliciting and ranking nominations and selecting the awardee(s), (2) notifying the awardee(s), (3) announcing the award(s) to members, and (4) ensuring that reports or presentations by awardees are given to the membership as part of the annual conference or business meetings in accordance with the award guidelines. The Awards Committee members shall independently review nominations and rank them, finding alternate reviewers for cases of conflicts of interest or additional reviewers for awards given at the annual conference. The Awards Committee Chair will summarize the results and discuss them with the other committee members as needed to reach a consensus. The committee shall prepare letters announcing the winners, which the Executive Board will disseminate to the membership.

The Awards Committee shall consist of three members, serving staggered terms of three years, with one new member elected each year. The senior members shall serve as Chair of the Committee during the third year of their term. Consideration should be given to representation from different institutions and diverse research specialties when electing the new member.

Section 3 – The Publications Committee shall oversee the management of publications produced and supported by the organization. Members of the Publications Committee shall be responsible for (1) serving as guest editor for association special issues through a peer-reviewed scientific journal; (2) organizing the publication of conference Proceedings; (3) communicating deadlines associated with publications to the membership through the Executive Board; (4) evaluating, assessing needs, and producing additional publications related to organization priorities; (5) ensuring that reports of activities are given to the membership as part of the annual conference or business meetings.

The Publications Committee shall consist of three members, serving staggered terms of three years, with one new member elected each year. Consideration of committee membership should be given to representation from different institutions and diverse research specialties when electing the new member. The senior members shall serve as Chair of the Committee during the third year of their term. The committee has the power, under consultation with the executive board, to solicit ad hoc committee members to assist in specific tasks as needed.

Section 1 –All Association expenditures must be approved in advance by the Executive Board.

Section 2 –No indebtedness shall be incurred by any officer or member of the Association, except as authorized in Article 6, Sections 4 and 5.

Section 1 – The Association shall hold one meeting each year, designated the Annual Meeting or The American Bee Research Conference.

Section 2 – The site of the Annual Meeting shall be selected by the President in conjunction with the Apiary Inspectors of America and the North American Beekeeping conventions.

Section 3 – The Vice-President will organize the Annual Meeting in coordination with the Executive Board, and is responsible for the publication of the conference proceedings.

Section 1 – The Association shall hold a business meeting, led by the President, in conjunction with the Annual Meeting, and the Secretary-Treasurer will record meeting minutes.

Section 2 – Elections will be by electronic ballot, and results will be communicated by the Executive Board. Elections will occur in the fall of each year (suggested election date of Dec 1), with results announced by January 1st or at the annual business meeting, whichever comes first. Newly elected officers shall begin their position after the conclusion of the next American Bee Research Conference.

Section 3 – The order of business for the Annual Business Meeting, unless changed by a majority vote of the members present and voting, shall be:

1. Call to order.
2. Preview of agenda for additions, deletions, and/or modifications.
3. Reports of Officers (including a financial report by the Secretary-Treasurer).
4. Reports of Committees.
5. Unfinished business.
6. New business.
7. Communication and bills.
8. Nomination and election of new officers, when necessary.
9. Resolutions formulated to be voted on by ballot.
10. Adjournment.

Section 1 – Changes in these bylaws may be made by a 2/3 majority of voting members casting a ballot.

Section 2 – Written notice of the proposed amendment(s) shall be sent to every member at least one month before the last date for return of ballots.

Section 3 – Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Association President for subsequent distribution to the membership.