Officers
Bylaws
August 29, 2005
INTRODUCTION
This document identifies the Constitution/Mission and the By-Laws of the Northeast Biological Safety Association, an independent, North American based biological safety organization with goals and principles similar to those of the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA). This independent organization is a non-profit, professional, and educational organization. Such organization was established to provide a regional forum for ongoing dialogue with regard to biological safety issues and to serve as a vehicle for enhancing individual and collective expertise as well as promoting professional growth. Organizational membership includes both public and private academic institutions, corporations, government employees and any other interested person.
NAME
The name of this organization (association) shall be the "Northeast Biological Safety Association". For convenience in less formal situations, it may be referred to by its initials: NBSA.
CONSTITUTION/MISSION
The Northeast Biological Safety Association will enhance and promote the knowledge and understanding of biological safety throughout the Northeast Region of the United States and Canada. The Northeast Biological Safety Association will create a dialogue and information network through its members and with members from other organizations. The Northeast Biological Safety Association will communicate biological safety issues and promote effective biological safety measures in areas that will include but not be limited to: security, risk management, genetic engineering, biotechnology, animal and human health issues, transportation safety, microbiological research and containment. The Northeast Biological Safety Association will promote training through sponsorship of educational conferences and as an advocate for programs of continuing education as it pertains to biological safety procedures, precautions and environmentally acceptable practices. The Northeast Biological Safety Association will review published recommendations, influence and support biological safety policies and standards and will act as a regional focal point for the consolidation of views on these issues. The Northeast Biological Safety Association will represent the interests of its members and the American Biological Safety Association in all areas relating to biological safety with the objective of ensuring the protection of public health or the environment from biological substances or materials.
BY-LAWS
THE BOARD
The governing body of the Northeast Biological Safety Association is to consist of a President, President Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three board members, all of whom will be elected by peers to serve as the Northeast Biological Safety Association representatives.
MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING PRIVILEGES
Section 1. The classes of membership are as follows: Individual, Student and Institutional (represented by a maximum of three individuals).
Section 2. The requirements for membership are those established by the Board of Directors of the Northeast Biological Safety Association.
Section 3. The right to hold elective office or to chair a standing committee is granted to all members in good standing. The president shall be a member of ABSA in good standing.
Section 4. Membership in the American Biological Safety Association is not required for membership in the Northeast Biological Safety Association.
Section 5. Voting privileges are granted to all members. Each member is entitled to one vote.
FINANCES
Section 1. Annual dues or contributions for the various classes of membership in the Northeast Biological Safety Association shall be those established by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Northeast Biological Safety Association dues and contributions shall be paid by or for every member in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Dues or contributions shall be payable annually on the anniversary date of the member.
Section 4. Members who have not paid dues or contributions within ninety calendar days of the due date shall be suspended. Such members, during the remainder of the calendar year, shall be automatically reinstated by payment of delinquent dues or contributions. Thereafter, the procedure applicable to new memberships shall be followed.
Section 5. Amount of dues shall be free for Student members, $20.00 for Individual members and $100.00 for Institutional members.
DIRECTORS AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors of this Association shall consist of the officers enumerated in Section 1 of "Officers and their Duties Section", the Immediate Past President of this Association, the President and President-Elect.
Section 2. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the President-Elect shall assume the duties of that office.
Section 3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President-Elect a special election may be held to fill the vacancy.
Section 4. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, a voting member in good standing shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to hold such office.
Section 5. Each Director shall have one vote on any matter before the Board of Directors.
Section 6. More than one-half the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section 7. The President, or any three members of the Board, may call a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. The order of succession to chair any meeting is as follows: President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer. In the event none of the named officers are present, any Director may call the meeting to order to elect a temporary chair who shall serve for that meeting only.
DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the same rights, powers, privileges and duties which are generally conferred upon Boards of Directors, and in addition, thereto, shall:
a Establish Association policy and direct the administrative and fiscal affairs of this Association;
b Provide for the incorporation of administrative directives, rules and procedures into a Procedural Manual;
c Adopt an annual budget;
d Act as trustee of all Association property;
e Provide for an audit of Association accounts at least annually;
f Employ personnel as required, establish their duties and fix their compensation.
OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1. The officers of the Northeast Biological Safety Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer,
Section 2. The duties of officers shall be such as are implied by their respective titles and which usually pertain to their respective offices, those which are specifically set forth in these By-laws, and those which may be delegated to them by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The President shall be chair of the Board of Directors and shall preside at all meetings of the Board and Association. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, the President shall appoint all Committees and the Chair thereof.
Section 4. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the performance of Presidential duties. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect shall fulfill the functions of the President.
Section 5. The Secretary shall record and keep accurate minutes of all proceedings of the Board of Directors and at all Association functions.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Association and shall deposit them in a bank or banks approved by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer, whenever requested to do so, shall report the financial condition of the Association to the Board of Directors. All disbursement shall be made by the check of the Association, signed by either the Treasurer, the President, or Secretary.
Section 7. The President and President-Elect shall each present a report at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association. The Treasurer shall present a written report at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association.
GENERAL MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be at least one business meeting each year, one of which shall be designated as the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 2. There shall be an Annual Educational Symposium.
Section 3. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held in mid April each year in conjunction with the Annual Educational Symposium.
Section 4. The exact date and location of each meeting is to be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Ten voting members, in addition to the President, shall constitute a quorum at a business meeting.
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Board may create and dissolve standing and special committees, the organization and charges of which shall appear in the Procedure Manual.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The members of this Association shall elect by plurality vote a President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer prior to each Annual Business Meeting. Those elected shall assume office at the close of the Annual Business Meeting and shall hold office for for two years from that date. The terms of office for the Secretary and Treasurer shall be staggered, those positions being filled alternating years.
Section 2. Nominations and elections shall be held at the annual meeting by voice vote or by a show of hands.
Section 3. Special elections shall be conducted by the Board of Directors.
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to these By-laws may originate from the membership at large, or the Board of Directors of this Association. All proposed amendments shall be referred to the By-laws and Procedure Manual Committee for study and recommendation to the Board of Directors. The proposed amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors. By-law changes shall be approved by a majority of the votes cast in a manner determined by the Board of Directors.